Figure 2.

STXM and XRF analysis of the HEC-1-A cell line. Absorption (Abs) and differential phase contrast (PhC) images, alongside with O, Na, Mg, and Scattering maps of HEC-1A endometrial cells fixed with three different methods: (a) EtOH 70% (mapped area 60 × 52 µm²), (b) PFA 2% (mapped area 68 × 68 µm²), and (c) PFA 3.7% (mapped area 52 × 52 µm²). Scale bars are 10 µm. (d) Normalised average XRF counts of O, Na, and Mg in HEC-1-A adenocarcinoma endometrial cells fixed with EtOH 70%, PFA 2%, and 3.7% evaluated on at least 6 cells/fixation method. (e) Min-to-max box plot comparing oxygen MFC as obtained by descriptive statistical analysis used to determine the coefficient of variation. A two-way ANOVA with multiple comparisons test was performed to test the statistical difference among the fixation methods. *** p < 0.001. The STXM images (Abs and PhC) and XRF images were acquired at 1500 eV excitation energy with a step size of 200 nm and 800 nm, respectively, and an acquisition time of 10 ms/pixel and 6 s/pixel, respectively.