Rapid Preparation of Uncoated Biological Specimens for Scanning Electron Microscopy

We have developed a relatively rapid glutaraldehyde-tannic acid (GTA) and osmium tetroxide (OsO4) fixation procedure which permits many types of uncoated biological specimens to be examined in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) at 20 kV without the occurrence of charging. Most specimens taken one day can be examined in the SEM the following afternoon. Types of specimens successfully treated were perfused adult and embryonic rat tissues, confluent human skin fibroblast tissue cultures, plant roots, flowers, seeds, some garden insects, and microcolonies of salivary streptococci. Cells in suspension and extracted human teeth did become electron conductive when treated with the GTA procedure. Most suspended cells must be centrifuged between each solution and the GTA procedure increases the preparation time for these cells. Extracted teeth are usually simply dried and coated. Therefore, the usual SEM preparation techniques are shorter and perhaps more useful for these types of specimens.