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The loss of enzyme reaction products from ultrathin sections during the staining for electron microscopy

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Summary

The effects of heavy metal salt staining procedures on the reaction products obtained in the demonstration of arylsulphatase and of acid phosphatase were studied.

Lead citrate staining at pH 12 was found to cause a very marked dissolution of barium sulphate and a moderate dissolution of lead sulphate. The staining with uranyl acetate was found to dissolve moderately both barium and lead sulphate.

Neither lead citrate nor uranyl acetate staining had any remarkable effect on lead phosphate.

The mechanism of the dissolution and the possibilities to avoid it were discussed.

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Kalimo, H.O., Helminen, H.J., Arstila, A.U. et al. The loss of enzyme reaction products from ultrathin sections during the staining for electron microscopy. Histochemistry Histochimie 14, 123–130 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00268039

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00268039

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