Cytoskeleton and chromatin of chicken erythrocyte studied by freeze-fracture

Abstract
We have previously described a method for three-dimensionally viewing the interior of cells by SEM. Thin slices of tissue are used, or alternatively, cells in suspension are embedded in a thin layer of fibrin gel. The gels or tissue slices are infiltrated with glycerol or dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) to suitable concentration, rapidly frozen, fractured, and thawed into fixative solution. The fracture surface is viewed after critical point drying and gold, or gold-palladium, coating. In the present report we extend this work in two ways, first to show how varying conditions at the moment of thawing can be used to modify the structure seen, creating a miniature in vitro control system for study of the cell interior, and secondly to show that replicas from the fracture surface can be obtained for examination by TEM. Using replicas, this technique becomes an extension of the standard freeze-etch technique, but with a result equivalent to very deep etching.

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