title: The use of vibratome sections for the ruthenium tetroxide protocol: a key for optimal visualization of epidermal lipid bilayers of the entire human stratum corneum in transmission electron microscopy.
abstract: In this paper we describe a preparative procedure which allows maximal visualization of all lipid bilayers in the human stratum corneum (SC). We used 50-microns-thick vibratome sections of paraformaldehyde/glutaraldehyde-fixed human skin. The sections were post-fixed in 1% osmium tetroxide and 0.5% ruthenium tetroxide. The vibratome sections were dehydrated only in 70% ethanol in order to prevent dissolution of the lipids. Lipid bilayers, including the alternating electron-dense and electron-lucent lamellae, were visible between all cell layers of the SC. In addition, this preparative procedure also appeared to be excellent for the ultrastructural preservation of lamellar bodies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Electron Microscopy, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Meulen
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: van den Bergh
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mommaas
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bouwstra
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Koerten
mesh_terms: D004817:Epidermis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds; C027646:ruthenium tetraoxide