Carbohydrate cytochemistry by transmission and scanning electron microscopy.

Macromolecules containing abundant carbohydrate moieties occur widely distributed on cell surfaces and in cell organelles. Extension to the ultrastructural level of light microscopic cytochemical methods for demonstrating the complex carbohydrates has provided extensive information about the precise location of a great diversity of glycoconjugates in various cell types affording, accordingly, an improved insight into the biologic significance of the chemical nature of some components. The available methods of ultrastructural carbohydrate cytochemistry are reviewed in this tutorial, and the applicability of these methods to demonstration of glycoconjugates by scanning electron microscopy is considered. Backscattered electron imaging was carried out on specimens of trachea stained by methods for demonstrating glycoconjugates by transmission electron microscopy. This approach provided a means of localizing sites of abundant complex carbohydrate by scanning electron microscopy. Further extension of carbohydrate cytochemical methods to demonstration of glycoconjugates by scanning electron microscopy appears feasible and offers a promise of providing valuable information for carbohydrate cytochemistry.

Duke Scholars

Author John Daniel Shelburne Pathology