Hexamethyldisilazane in preparation of retinal tissue for scanning electron microscopy.
A new rapid procedure for desiccating frozen resin-cracked retinal tissue for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which permits air-drying was found to compare favorably with tissues prepared by critical-point drying: Retinal tissue was fixed in 4% phosphate-buffered neutral formaldehyde, dehydrated by means of graded ethanol, embedded in Epon, cracked and washed in propylene oxide. For desiccation, the specimens were immersed in hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), air-dried and finally sputter-coated. The method is time-saving, gives extended information in SEM, and the number of good specimens is increased.
D000818:Animals; D006652:Histological Techniques; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D017646:Organosilicon Compounds; D012160:Retina / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012825:Silicon
D017646:Organosilicon Compounds; C024548:hexamethylsilazane; D012825:Silicon