Epoxy Film Separable from Glass Surfaces for Selective Light and Electron Microscopy of Tissue and in situ Grown Cells

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Abstract
Plant tissues, fungal spores and cell monolayers grown on sterile, carbon-coated coverslips, were fixed, dehydrated, and then embedded in Araldite 6005, Epon 812 and Spurr's low viscosity plastic by conventional means. Tissue pieces were placed on carbon-coated microscope slides in a few drops of plastic and covered with a carbon-coated glass coverslip. Cells grown on carbon-coated coverslips, were inverted on a few drops of plastic on carbon-coated slides. The plastic was polymerized at 65 C. The epoxy film, containing the cells or tissue, was removed intact by slipping a razor blade between glass surface and plastic. Cells and tissue in the released film were examined by phase microscopy. Immersion oil was washed off with amyl acetate and the area of interest marked and cut out with a fine-pointed scalpel or razor blade. The cut-out was then mounted on a carrier with epoxy glue for thin sectioning at the desired angle.