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The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology logoLink to The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology
. 1957 Nov 25;3(6):1017–1022. doi: 10.1083/jcb.3.6.1017

REDUCTION OF HEATING ARTIFACTS IN THIN SECTIONS EXAMINED IN THE ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

Michael L Watson 1
PMCID: PMC2224129  PMID: 13481033

Abstract

Certain phenomena affecting contrast obtained from tissue sections with the electron microscope have been investigated and a technique is described for reducing destruction by the electron beam of fine details in sections. It has been concluded that loss of embedding material is slightly higher at exposed surfaces of sections than it is at surfaces covered by substrate film. Covering of both surfaces of sections with thin films of formvar, collodion, or carbon materially improves the general appearance, reduces distortion, and sometimes reduces loss of tissue mass from the section as result of exposure to the electron beam. This improvement is considered to result from the relatively high melting-point of the covering films which serve to eliminate or reduce surface-tension or other forces operating in methacrylate softened by the electron beam.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. WILLIAMS R. C., KALLMAN F. Interpretation of electron micrographs of single and serial sections. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1955 Jul 25;1(4):301–314. doi: 10.1083/jcb.1.4.301. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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