Scanning electron microscopy and EDX analysis of exocrine and endocrine gland cells of rat pancreas surface-etched in an oxygen plasma.
Pancreas, double-fixed in glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide and embedded in epoxy resin was cut into sections 0.5-1 micron thick. The sections were surface-etched in an oxygen plasma produced by exciting oxygen with a radio frequency generator. Structural components of exocrine and endocrine cells were morphologically investigated in the secondary electron image mode of the SEM. Moreover, in order to identify some cell components such as endocrine granules, the morphological image obtained of the etched surface by the SEM were compared with those seen in a TEM, using the serial sections from the same tissue block and at the same cellular level. For a microanalytical investigation, tissues were fixed with glutaraldehyde alone. The structural components of exocrine and endocrine cells were analyzed by SEM/EDX. A better resolution under the SEM was obtained of 0.5-0.8 micron thick sections after surface-etching in an oxygen plasma for 1 minute. Intracellular structures such as nuclear membranes, nucleolus, mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum and zymogen granules were readily identifiable. Moreover, the internal structure of organelles such as cristae of mitochondria was recognized. In the serial sections, the mode of arrangement of intracellular structures in the SEM was well consistent with those in the TEM. The peaks of phosphorus, sulphur and calcium were clearly detected from the intracellular components such as nucleolus, nuclear membranes and secretory granules.
D000818:Animals; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis / Q000379:methods; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D010100:Oxygen; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats
D010100:Oxygen