ELECTRON PROBE ANALYSIS OF CATIONIC SPECIES IN PYROANTIMONATE PRECIPITATES IN EPON-EMBEDDED TISSUE

Abstract

Electron microscopy of Epon-embedded mouse vas deferens eipthelium treated with buffered potassium pyroantimonate-osmium tetroxide solution revealed precipitates in the lamina propria and along the apical plasma membrane. Electron microprobe elemental analysis of adjacent sections demonstrated that the deposits contained sodium and antimony. Other cations noted to precipitate pyroantimonate in vitro were not present in large amounts compared to controls, and were randomly distributed.