title: Preparation of single-celled marine dinoflagellates for electron microscopy.
abstract: Electron microscopy has been used successfully to study and identify single-celled marine dinoflagellates including parasitic ones and others, such as those that cause red tide. Delicate cells can be preserved for scanning electron microscopy with a combined glutaraldehydeosmium tetroxide mixture that is adjusted for the osmolality of the medium. The protocol allows resolution of fine morphological features. Preservation for transmission electron microscopy can be accomplished with a standard glutaraldehyde fixation and osmium-tetroxide post-fixation in a suitable buffer, but again, the osmolality of the mixture must be adjusted. The protocol allows ultrastructural resolution of vesiculated cells and has been modified for small sample sizes.
authors.affiliation: Florida Marine Research Institute, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, St. Petersburg 33701-5095, USA.
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Truby
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009994:Osmolar Concentration