title: An overview of techniques for immobilizing and viewing living cells.
abstract: Microscopists making observations on living cells are often faced with the challenge of getting those cells to hold still for extended observation times. This paper presents an overview/summary of a range of techniques for non-destructive immobilization of living cells (with an emphasis on protozoa), permitting microscopic observations and photography. A variety of chemical and physical immobilization techniques are discussed, but particular attention is paid to a comparative discussion of the mechanical devices (rotocompressors or microcompressors) used for reversible trapping of living cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3258, USA. kauf@mail.bio.tamu.edu
authors.forename: Karl J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Aufderheide
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018914:Cells, Immobilized; D008857:Microscopy, Interference / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010247:Paramecium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods; D010781:Photography; D013768:Tetrahymena / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure