Evaluation of fixation methods for ultrastructural study of Caenorhabditiselegans embryos

Various fixation methods for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were te sted on Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. By combining various techniques, us ing 3.4% chitinase in combination with 1% alpha-chymotripsin, we were able to establish a new fixation procedure that for the first time preserves bot h membranes and internal cellular ultrastructure of C. elegans embryos in d ifferent stages of development. This unique procedure will enable a hithert o unattainable standard for TEM research of C. elegans embryos. Sectioning of specific developmental stages fixed with this method allows a detailed s tudy of ultrastructural aspects of embryogenesis. Microsc. Res. Tech. 49:21 2-216, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.