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An improved timm sulphide silver method for light and electron microscopic localization of heavy metals in biological tissues

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Summary

Modifications of the Timm sulphide silver method for the demonstration of heavy metals are described.

To improve the structural preservation of the tissues perfusion with a glutaraldehyde fixative is employed before perfusion with the sodium sulphide solution. For the subsequent staining for light and electron microscopy, procedures for plastic embedding, paraffin embedding and cryostat sectioning are presented. Examples from several tissues are shown, including the pituitary, pancreas, intestine, tongue, kidney, testis and brain. The staining of autolytic, postmortal human brain tissue is demonstrated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Anatomy, University of Aarhus, DK-8000, Aarhus, Denmark

    Gorm Danscher & Jens Zimmer

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  1. Gorm Danscher
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  2. Jens Zimmer
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Danscher, G., Zimmer, J. An improved timm sulphide silver method for light and electron microscopic localization of heavy metals in biological tissues. Histochemistry 55, 27–40 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496691

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496691

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