title: AFM characterization of chemically treated corneal cells.
abstract: We present a characterization of chemically treated cells using atomic force microscopy (AFM) which can observe changes in morphology and elasticity of cells. Since AFM has the significant advantage that it does not require fixation of samples, the method is simple and can capture various properties of living cells. In this study, corneal epithelial and endothelial cells were examined. The topography images of the corneal cells without glutaraldehyde (GA) fixation were successfully obtained. The images showed a natural three-dimensional shape of these cells, which scanning electron microscope (SEM) images could not provide. The AFM images of GA-fixed cells were taken and compared with a SEM image reported in the literature. Our results show that longer time for GA fixation makes the surface of the corneal endothelial tissue stiffer. Also, longer treatment results in relatively large structural variation in samples. Combined with conventional histochemical methods, this approach helps us gain an overall understanding of the influence of such chemical treatment.
authors: Department of Environmental Chemistry and Engineering, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, G1-13 4259 Nagatusta Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8502, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors: Teiko
authors: T
authors: Shibata-Seki
authors: Kazuki
authors: K
authors: Tajima
authors: Hiroki
authors: H
authors: Takahashi
authors: Hiroya
authors: H
authors: Seki
authors: Junji
authors: J
authors: Masai
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Goto
authors: Eiry
authors: E
authors: Kobatake
authors: Toshihiro
authors: T
authors: Akaike
authors: Norihiko
authors: N
authors: Itoh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D005976:Glutaral / Q000737:chemistry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine; D016707:Tissue Fixation
chemical_list: D005976:Glutaral