Ta. Fassel et al., LYSINE EFFECT ON RUTHENIUM RED AND ALCIAN BLUE PRESERVATION AND STAINING OF THE STAPHYLOCOCCAL GLYCOCALYX, Cells and materials, 3(3), 1993, pp. 327-336
Citations number
36
Categorie Soggetti
Cytology & Histology","Medicine, Research & Experimental","Materials Science, Biomaterials
The effect of lysine on ruthenium red (RR) and alcian blue (AB) preser
vation and/or staining for transmission electron microscopy of glycoca
lyces was evaluated for three species of the gram-positive, coagulase-
negative staphylococci. A RR and an AB procedure were compared with an
d without lysine included in the glutaraldehyde prefixation. Minimal o
r no glycocalyx was preserved or stained by glutaraldehyde fixation on
ly. For all species, the inclusion of lysine increased visualization o
f fibrous material. RR treatment without lysine, results in sparse or
limited fibrous material or artifactual condensations which contrasts
with enhanced fibrous material seen when lysine is included with RR. T
he effect of lysine is also to enhance the visualization of staphyloco
ccal glycocalyx by AB. Without lysine, condensed curved structures are
consistently seen following AB processing. In contrast, extensive and
elaborate glycocalyces are observed with inclusion of lysine with AB.
Thus, ultrastructural visualization by RR and AB of the staphylococca
l glycocalyx in the species studied was enhanced by use of lysine.