Problems of the use of 2,2-dimethoxypropane as dehydrating agent in preparing single cells for transmission electron microscopy.
Dehydration with 2,2-dimethoxypropane acidified with 1 n HCl in an 1:100 volume ratio has been found to be unsuitable for the preservation of cell membranes in single cell preparations. Reducing the HCl concentration to 0.1 or 0.01 n results in an improvement of membrane structures. This effect is rather independent of different fixation modes, buffer concentrations, or embedding media. It is suggested that membrane destruction is caused by a proton concentration exceeding a suitable level.
D000433:1-Propanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D003890:Desiccation; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D020005:Propanols
D020005:Propanols; C017240:2,2-dimethoxypropane; D000433:1-Propanol