Abstract
The resolution obtainable in electron microscopic autoradiographs, using a photographic emulsion consisting of a monolayer of silver bromide crystals, was investigated theoretically and experimentally. The expected distribution of exposed crystals around a point source was calculated from the geometry of the preparation and from the range distribution of the beta particles emitted by tritium. From such a distribution an autoradiographic resolution of the order of 1000 A can be predicted. From the point source distribution, the expected distribution of grains around bacteriophages labeled with tritium was calculated. This distribution was also measured experimentally in electron microscopic autoradiographs of bacteriophages T-2 labeled with thymidine-H3. The two distributions agreed closely. It was also verified, using the nuclear region in thin cross-sections of Bacillus subtilis labeled with thymidine-H3, that resolutions of the same order were obtained for extended sources. It was concluded that an autoradiographic resolution of 1000 A could be achieved with a presently available commercial emulsion, although emulsions with finer grains might be desirable in some circumstances.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (924.8 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- CARO L. G. Electron microscopic radioautography of thin sections: the Golgi zone as a site of protein concentration in pancreatic acinar cells. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1961 May;10:37–45. doi: 10.1083/jcb.10.1.37. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- CARO L. G., PALADE G. E. [The role of the Golgi apparatus in the secretory process. Autoradiographic study]. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil. 1961;155:1750–1762. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Comer J. J., Skipper S. J. Nuclear Emulsions for Electron Microscopy. Science. 1954 Apr 2;119(3092):441–442. doi: 10.1126/science.119.3092.441. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HARFORD C. G., HAMLIN A. A method of electron microscopic autoradiography with tritium-labeled cells in a magnetic field. Lab Invest. 1961 May-Jun;10:627–635. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KELLENBERGER E., ARBER W. Electron microscopical studies of phage multiplication. I. A method for quantitative analysis of particle suspensions. Virology. 1957 Apr;3(2):245–255. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(57)90091-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LIQUIER-MILWARD J. Electron microscopy and radioautography as coupled techniques in tracer experiments. Nature. 1956 Mar 31;177(4509):619–619. doi: 10.1038/177619a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- NADLER N. J. Some theoretical aspects of radioautography. Can J Med Sci. 1951 Aug;29(4):182–194. doi: 10.1139/cjms51-024. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- O'BRIEN R. T., GEORGE L. A., 2nd Preparation of autoradiograms for electron microscopy. Nature. 1959 May 23;183(4673):1461–1462. doi: 10.1038/1831461a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- PEACHEY L. D. Thin sections. I. A study of section thickness and physical distortion produced during microtomy. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1958 May 25;4(3):233–242. doi: 10.1083/jcb.4.3.233. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- PELC S. R., COOMBES J. D., BUDD G. C. On the adaptation of autoradiographic techniques for use with the electron microscope. Exp Cell Res. 1961 Jun;24:192–195. doi: 10.1016/0014-4827(61)90272-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- PRZYBYLSKI R. J. Electron microscope autoradiography. Exp Cell Res. 1961 Jun;24:181–184. doi: 10.1016/0014-4827(61)90269-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- REVEL J. P., HAY E. D. Autoradiographic localization of DNA synthesis in a specific ultrastructural, component of the interphase nucleus. Exp Cell Res. 1961 Nov;25:474–480. doi: 10.1016/0014-4827(61)90301-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SECHAUD J., RYTER A., KELLENBERGER E. Considérations quantitatives sur des coupes ultraminces de bactéries infectées par un bactériophage. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1959 May 25;5(3):469–478. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- STEVENS G. W. W. Radioactive microphotographs for resolution testing in autoradiography. Br J Radiol. 1950 Dec;23(276):723–730. doi: 10.1259/0007-1285-23-276-723. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]