Silver Impregnation for Electron Microscopy

Abstract

Human and animal kidney can be impregnated for electron microscopy by:1.) fixing 1 mm blocks of tissue in neutral formalin; 2.) oxidizing 1 hour in periodic acid 0.5% in 70% alcohol at 37[degree]; 3.) Impregnating 24-48 hours or longer in Gomori''s silver methenamine; 4.) postfixing in 2% OSO4; 5.) embedding and sectioning for electron microscopy. Basement membranes and collagen fibrils are strongly impregnated and collagen periodicity is well demonstrated. Nuclear chromatin and leukocytic granules are also impregnated.