EPON-FREEZE CRACKING FOR SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

Freeze cracking was carried out to visualize intracellular structures with scanning electron microscope (SEM). Tissues embedded in Epon 812 without any catalyst were frozen in liquid nitrogen and cracked at room temperature. After removal of the epoxy resin by displacing with propylene oxide, specimens were dried by critical point drying method. Then, the cracked face was ion-etched prior to coating with gold. The cracking technique was very easy, and the well-preserved structures of some organelles were demonstrated on the fractured faces thus obtained.