A Method for the Preparation of Platelets for Transmission Electron Microscopy

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Abstract
A modified method for the preparation of platelets for transmission electron microscopy has been developed. A suspension of platelets in plasma is fixed in glutaraldehyde, immobilized in agarose, and further fixed in osmium tetroxide. The specimen is then dehydrated with alcohol and embedded in Spurr. The key point of this method is the immobilization of the platelet pellet in agarose gel, thus dispensing with the difficulties associated with excessive centrifugation and resuspension of the platelets. Platelets prepared for transmission electron microscopy by this method show excellent preservation of ultrastructure. In addition, this method is relatively rapid, requiring only one day for processing the specimen.