Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
diseases. However, despite the abundance of studies dealing
with the relationship between mtDNA and neurodegenerative
diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), no unequivocally convincing
data are actually available. Accumulating evidence has indicated
that mitochondrial damage is involved in motor neuron degen-
eration in sporadic ALS (
6-8
), familial ALS with Cu/Zn
superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mutation (
9, 10
) and mutant
SOD1 transgenic mice (
11, 12
). As regards currently available
strategies for the morphological examination of mitochondria,
the transmission electron microscope (TEM) remains a powerful
tool for imaging the fine structure of cellular organelles and for
locating particular structures. Thus, TEM is expected to continue
to enhance our understanding of cellular functions and dysfunc-
tion. Moreover, electron microscopic study has enabled us to
confirm mitochondrial involvement in the pathomechanism of
certain neurodegenerative diseases.
2. Materials
2.1. Chemical Fixation
1. 2% Glutaraldehyde (pH 7.2) kept stable at 4°C for up to
1 month (see Note 1).
2. Fixative (2% glutaraldehyde [pH 7.2] and 0.1 M cacodylate
buffer [pH 7.4]).
3. 0.1 M Cacodylate buffer (pH 7.4) kept stable at room tem-
perature (~5-35°C) for up to approximately 6 months under
unsealed conditions (see Note 2).
4. Osmium tetraoxide (OsO
4
) ~1-2% (make fresh as required).
5. Fifty percent Ethanol stored at 4°C.
6. Sixty percent Ethanol stored at 4°C.
7. Seventy percent Ethanol stored at 4°C.
8. Eighty percent Ethanol stored at 4°C.
9. Ninety percent Ethanol stored at 4°C.
10. Ninety-five percent Ethanol stored at 4°C.
11. Hundred percent Ethanol kept at room temperature.
12. Propylene oxide or QY-1 (n-Butyl glycidyl ether) kept at
room temperature.
13. Epoxy resin (TAAB Epon 812).
14. Uranyl acetate stored at 4°C.
15. Lead citrate stored at 4°C.
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