THE PREPARATION OF SECTIONS OF GUINEA PIG LIVER FOR ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

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Abstract
The paper describes an attempt to prepare sections of suitable thinness for electron microscopy. The instrument used was a rotating, high-speed type, microtome the blade moving at the rate of 49,000 rpm.; sections produced were 0.3-0.6 u thick. The tissue Avas fixed by per-fusion with a 2% soln. of osmic acid, and embedded in an eutectic mixture of d-camphor and naphthalene, melting at 32.5[degree]C. After sectioning, the embedding material was allowed to sublime, leaving the section undisturbed. The results are illustrated by comparing a light microscope photograph (x 2000) of a 1 u thick section of guinea pig liver with an electronmicrograph (x 5000) of a 0.5 u thick section of the same tissue. The high resolving power of the electron microscope is demonstrated by the particulate appearance of the ground substance which seems to consist everywhere of discrete elements roughly 80-100 mu in diam. (microsomes). This aspect contrasts with the structureless appearance of the ground substance, as observed under the light microscope. In addition, the electron microscope reveals the presence of another component, also situated in the ground substance, which presents a fibrous texture and in which some of the microsomes appear to be embedded.

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