3-DIMENSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL TISSUES - A NEW METHOD FOR INVESTIGATION USING SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY

A new method is described which enables the visualization of hidden ce llular surfaces of biological tissues. The method does not depend on t he kind of fixative solution, the duration of the fixation, or the qua ntity of extracellular matrix. The samples are chemically dissociated with potassium ethoxide until the first individual cells appear in the solution. This initial process is followed by phase contrast microsco py, and remaining tissue is investigated with scanning electron micros copy. The method has proved more effective than conventional enzymatic techniques and is a simple, quick, and effective way to investigate t he three-dimensional organization of different normal and pathological tissues. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.