H. Stegmann et al., Quantification of total calcium in terminal cisternae of skinned muscle fibers by imaging electron energy-loss spectroscopy, J MUSCLE R, 20(5), 1999, pp. 505-515
Skinned muscle fibers are ideal model preparations for the investigation of
Ca2+-regulatory mechanisms. Their internal ionic milieu can be easily cont
rolled and distinct physiological states are well defined. We have measured
the total Ca content in the terminal cisternae of such preparations using
imaging electron energy-loss spectroscopy (Image-EELS) as a new approach fo
r quantification of sub-cellular element distributions. Murine muscle fiber
s submitted to a standardized calcium-loading procedure were cryo-fixed wit
h a combined solution exchanger/plunge freezing device. Energy-filtered ima
ge series were recorded from ultrathin freeze-dried cryosections of samples
immobilized in either relaxed or caffeine-contracted state. From these ima
ge series, electron energy-loss spectra were extracted by digital image-pro
cessing and quantitatively processed by multiple-least-squares-fitting with
reference spectra. The calculated fit coefficients were converted to Ca-co
ncentrations by a calibration obtained from Ca-standards. Total Ca-contents
in the terminal cisternae of skinned skeletal muscle fibers decreased upon
caffeine-induced Ca-release from 123 +/- 159 (+/- 11) to 73 +/- 102 (+/- 8
) mmol/kg d.w. (weighted mean +/- SD (+/- SEM)).