[The freeze-etching and freeze-fracturing technics and their use for studying cellular membranes in the central nervous system].
In the present review, both subkinds of the method for membrane splitting, namely freeze-etching and freeze-fracturing techniques, are presented. After a brief historical survey, a mechanism of their action is described. Special attention is paid to the consecutive stages in applying these techniques--fixation, fracturing, etching, replication, cleaning and observation. A new idea for a better cleaning of the replicas and an explanation of the different occurrence of intramembranous particles on the membrane fracture faces are proposed. Finally, the application of the freeze-etching and freeze-fracturing techniques to visualize the intramembranous structure of membranes in the central nervous system is outlined.
Surchev
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D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005613:Freeze Etching / Q000379:methods*; D005614:Freeze Fracturing / Q000379:methods*; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D009626:Terminology as Topic