METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CRYOPREPARING BIOLOGICAL TISSUE FOR ULTRASTRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

摘要

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CRYOPREPARINGBIOLOGICAL TISSUE FOR ULTRASTRUCTURAL ANALYSISABSTRACT OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a method for the cryo-preparation of biological tissue samples for ultrastruc-tural analysis. The process comprises vitrifying abiological tissue sample under severely rapid conditionsand then depressurized. The depresssurized, vitrifiedtissue sample is brought to equilibrium at a temperatureof less than -140°C. The tissue sample is then dehydratedwhile maintained in a state of thermal equilibrium. Afterreaching equilibrium the tissue sample is infiltrated witha degassed resin and followed by a polymerization of theresin to form an embedded tissue sample. This inventionadditionally relates to a sample holder apparatus whichhas unique use characteristics in the process of thisinvention.