title: Low temperature techniques for X-ray microanalysis in pathology: alternatives to cryoultramicrotomy.
abstract: Many diseases are associated with a change in the distribution of diffusible ions at the cell or tissue level. These diseases can profitably be studied by X-ray microanalysis. This technique for the study of ion distribution requires the use of cryoprepared specimens. Analysis at low or medium resolution can be carried out on thick or semi-thick cryosections, or on frozen-hydrated or freeze-dried embedded bulk samples. Such analyses are particularly useful in the initial stages of an investigation or when data from a large number of samples have to be acquired. Also X-ray microanalysis of cultured or single cells prepared by freeze-drying can be used to rapidly collect information on a large number of cells. Analysis at high resolution has to be carried out on thin sections: Cryosections or sections of freeze-substituted or freeze-dried embedded tissue. For the latter type of specimens, the use of low-temperature embedding methods may have important advantages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Cell Biology, Medical Nobel Institute, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wroblewski
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wróblewski
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Roomans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis / Q000379:methods*; D005612:Freeze Drying; D005615:Freezing; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008867:Microtomy / Q000379:methods; D009132:Muscles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats