Topography And Thickness Of Air‐Dried Human Platelets Measured By Correlative Transmission And Scanning Electron Microscopy

Abstract

Human platelets rapidly air-dried on carbon-coated grids were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Whole cell mounts were photographed in a transmission electron microscope (TEM), coated with gold, then examined in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The thickness of the cytoplasm towards the center of the cells was estimated at 20-40 nm, and the rim of dense material surrounding the cells was 40 nm thick. Some dense bodies stood out as much as 100 nm above the dried cytoplasm. The measurements are important for evaluating cytoplasmic volume during microprobe analyses of air-dried platelet preparations.