ABSTRACT
Fatal generalized barium sulfate (BaSO4) embolization followed erroneous vaginal insertion of the enema tip intended for colon examination. Light microscopy revealed the presence of swollen, granular reticuloendothelial cells in most visceral organs such as lung, liver, spleen, bone marrow, kidney, and brain. Transmission electron microscopy showed the reticuloendothelial cells loaded with uniformly electron-dense granules of various sizes. Scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy-dispersive x-ray analyzer confirmed the BaSO4 composition of these granules when unstained paraffin sections of different organs mounted on glass slides without coverslips were examined. The use of the technique of x-ray microanalysis is recommended when absolute identification of inorganic material in human organs is needed. The technique can be used directly on routine paraffin-embedded material mounted on glass slides as well as with material expressly prepared.
Subject(s)
Barium Sulfate/adverse effects , Embolism/chemically induced , Enema/adverse effects , Vagina , Age Factors , Aged , Barium Sulfate/analysis , Electron Probe Microanalysis , Female , Humans , Kupffer Cells/pathology , Lung/analysis , Lung/pathology , Microscopy, Electron , Spleen/analysis , Spleen/pathology , Vagina/blood supply , Vagina/pathologyABSTRACT
A device is described for the rapid freezing of tissue in situ by a punch biopsy approach using a specially designed cryogun with a highly thermal conductive specimen holder. The cryogun consists of a sampling device using a double, spring-loaded gun mechanism and a system of cryochambers. Ultrathin freeze-dried sections cut from samples obtained with this cryogun are relatively free of artifacts and have few ice crystals. Organelles are seen by natural contrast when cryosections of approximately 1000 A are observed with a transmission electron microscope or in the transmission mode of a scanning electron microscope. The construction of the cryogun is described along with a method of obtaining improved, ultrafast cryofixation of tissue specimens. The reliability of obtaining x-ray microanalysis measurements of diffusible ions where movement within cell compartments has been retained is discussed.
Subject(s)
Histocytochemistry , Kidney Cortex/cytology , Kidney Tubules, Proximal/cytology , Basement Membrane/ultrastructure , Biopsy , Freezing , Humans , Kidney Cortex/ultrastructure , Kidney Tubules, Proximal/ultrastructure , Microvilli/ultrastructureABSTRACT
The present paper reviews studies which utilize x-ray microanalysis to determine intracellular ion shifts following several types of cell injury. New data from our own laboratory on several cell injury systems are discussed. Concentration estimates are made by comparison of data from tissues with a series of standards prepared in 20% albumin followed by cryosectioning. Hemorrhagic shock in rats is followed by rapid changes of ions in both muscle and liver. These include increased levels of sodium and chlorine and decreased levels of potassium which can be correlated with deficits in the energy charge. Measurements made over hepatocellular carcinomas in the mouse, induced by safrole show marked changes in comparison with non-transformed cells. These include striking increases in sodium and chloride and decreases in potassium and phosphorus which may be related to growth control. Studies on ischemia produced by arterial clamping in the rat kidney and the dog heart show somewhat similar changes. Moreover, in these models much interest is directed at early increases of cytoplasmic calcium with decreased mitochondrial calcium levels at later intervals. Following reflow, there is a prominent increase of calcium in the cytosol. These changes in calcium may be related to activation of phospholipases producing permeability changes which may contribute to further ion shifts as well as ultimately to cell death. The paper also comments on the use of cryostat sections for some types of routine pathological analysis.
Subject(s)
Disease Models, Animal , Electron Probe Microanalysis/methods , Ions/metabolism , Animals , Coronary Disease/metabolism , Dogs , Ischemia/metabolism , Kidney Diseases/metabolism , Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism , Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/ultrastructure , Male , Microscopy, Electron/methods , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods , Rats , Shock, Hemorrhagic/metabolismABSTRACT
A method is described in which free cells were dehydrated in suspension, put one double-coated tape attached to a specimen stub and dried from CO2. The method provides a simple, fast means of handling free cells when using the critical point method of drying.
Subject(s)
Cells, Cultured/ultrastructure , Cytological Techniques , Animals , Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor , Desiccation , MiceABSTRACT
Pancreatic tissues from 22 patients with a wide variety of types of shock were obtained within minutes of somatic death for light and electron microscopy and for cytochemical studies. By light microscopy, it was difficult to ascertain any differences between the shock groups; however, electron microscopy disclosed subcellular alterations that could be correlated well with the type, severity, and duration of shock. Mild cases of shock or shock of short duration showed mild cell damage, while extreme cases of hemorrhagic or septic shock showed cell death and necrosis. No morphological evidence for lysosomal initiation of damage was seen, but it is clear that the pancreas can undergo severe cell injury during shock that could result in release of further damaging enzymes, most probably from zymogen granules rather than from lysosomes.
