title: Analytical electron microscopic evaluation of the effects of paraformaldehyde pretreatment on the reaction of glutaraldehyde with biogenic amines.
abstract: Analytical electron microscopy was used to determine the quantitative effects of paraformaldehyde pretreatment on the formation of the biogenic amine-glutaraldehyde-chrome complex. Pretreatment with paraformaldehyde prevented the glutaraldehyde-chrome reaction with norepinephrine in the rat adrenal medulla. In contrast to the effect of paraformaldehyde on norepinephrine, pretreatment did not prevent the chrome reaction in serotonin-containing argentaffin cells of the gut. X-Ray energy spectrographic analysis revealed a significant decrease in chrome content in the paraformaldehyde treated tissue, but sufficient chrome did react to produce an electron-dense product. Thus by treating tissue with paraformaldehyde prior to the glutaraldehyde chrome procedure, serotonergic sites may be differentiated from catecholaminergic areas at the electron microscopic level.
mesh_terms: D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000818:Animals; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000032:analysis*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000032:analysis; D005557:Formaldehyde; D005976:Glutaral; D007583:Jejunum / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000032:analysis; D011108:Polymers; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D001679:Biogenic Amines; D011108:Polymers; D005557:Formaldehyde; D012701:Serotonin; D005976:Glutaral; D009638:Norepinephrine; C003043:paraform; D004837:Epinephrine