Use of tannic acid as a fixative-mordant to improve the ultrastructural appearance ofCandida albicansblastospores

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Abstract
Blastospores of Candida albicans , grown in YM broth (Difco, pH 6·0), were treated with tannic acid as part of a fixation schedule with glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide. The results obtained were compared to routine fixation procedures employing glutaraldehyde-osmium tetroxide and potassium permanganate, as well as several schedules using various combinations of the aforementioned fixatives. Glutaraldehyde-osmium tetroxide-tannic acid fixed cells had several morphological structures accentuated, including sharply delineated cytoplasmic and organelle membranes, a detailed cytoplasmic matrix, and an intensified layered cell wall. Tannic acid has been found to react as a mordant between osmium tetroxide and lead citrate, forming a Ȝstabilizing matrixȝ within the cells. Blastospores appeared to have an improved comprehensive ultrastructural appearance, a result of the tannic acid-matrix preserving cellular components for electron microscopy.