title: An improved processing method for electron microscopy investigation of conjunctival biopsies.
abstract: A new schedule in the processing of conjunctival biopsies for ultrastructural investigations is proposed. The specimens are first examined in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), briefly rehydrated and secondly processed for observation in Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The rehydration counterbalances the shrinkage due to the previous processing steps applied for SEM examination and allows a good TEM morphology of the recovered specimens to be achieved. The correlative SEM/TEM study on the same conjunctival biopsy provides complete informations on both the surface and the inner structure of the tissue. This appears of value in the investigation of conjunctival biopsy from eyes affected by tear film quantitative and/or qualitative alterations.
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning