title: Freeze-fracture cytochemistry: replicas of critical point-dried cells and tissues after fracture-label.
abstract: Applications of the new fracture-labeling techniques for the observation of cytochemical labels on platinum-carbon replicas are described. Frozen cells, embedded in a cross-linked protein matrix, and frozen tissues are fractured with a scalpel under liquid nitrogen, thawed, labeled, dehydrated by the critical point drying method, and replicated. This method allows direct, high-resolution, two-dimensional chemical and immunological characterization of the cellular membranes in situ, as well as detection of sites within cross-fractured cytoplasm and extracellular matrix.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002477:Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005614:Freeze Fracturing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D010179:Pancreas / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010984:Platinum; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010984:Platinum