A combined solution exchange/plunge-freezing device for skinned muscle fibers

For many contractility studies, defined functional states of skinned muscle fiber preparations can be introduced by application of standardized perfus ion protocols with large varieties of experimental solutions. Functionally important subcellular element distributions in the myoplasm and in the sarc oplasmic reticulum can be measured with high spatial resolution by electron microscopic microanalysis. Capturing these subcellular ion distributions r equires their rapid immobilization by quick-freezing. We therefore combined a plunge-freezing device with a semiautomatic solution exchanger to reprod ucibly perfuse skinned muscle fiber bundles with multiple solutions. The is ometric tension produced is simultaneously recorded as an indicator for the functional state. The samples can be quick-frozen at any chosen time of th e tension transient. A cryoglueing technique finally delivers specimens sui table for cryoultramicrotomy.