THE USE OF LEAD CITRATE AT HIGH pH AS AN ELECTRON-OPAQUE STAIN IN ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

Key Points

• Evaluate the efficacy of high-pH lead citrate solutions as electron-opaque staining agents for biological specimens in electron microscopy.
• Formulated aqueous solutions of lead salts stabilized at high pH for ultrathin section staining.
• Applied high-pH lead citrate to biological tissue sections prepared for transmission electron microscopy.
• High-pH lead citrate acts as a stable and potent electron-opaque stain for biological samples.
• Lead staining markedly enhances the electron scattering and ultrastructural contrast of cellular components and organelles.