Application of cryofixation and cryoultramicrotomy for biological electron microscopy

Abstract

Conventional chemical fixation and embedding of specimens in resins are accompanied by many artifacts, including postmortem structural alterations. Antigenicity of constituents of specimens can be deteriorated and soluble elements relocated in the process of chemical fixation and resin-embedding. Cryofixation and cryoultramicrotomy will overcome many of these drawbacks of chemical fixation and resin embedding. The theoretical background, equipment, methods, and applications of cryofixation and cryoultramicrotomy for biological specimens are reviewed.