Comparisons of Techniques - Sample Preparation Topic for Transmission Electron Microscopy - page 230

Comparison discussion : Cartilage is composed of a mixture of collagen 2 and
collagen 11. Collagen 2 is in the form of large periodic fibers similar to those of
collagen 1. When collagen 2 fibers are attacked chemically, small fibrils appear that
can be seen with a negative staining (Fig. 8.51) . The immunological labeling made
on a specific antibody of collagen 11 proves that these small fibrils are collagen 11
fibrils (Fig. 8.52) .

Fig. 8.51 Collagen fibers 2,
partially dissociated in order
to allow the appearance of
small collagen fibrils 11, after
“negative-staining” contrast.
( B. Burdin, CT

µ UCB-Lyon )

Fig. 8.52 Collagen 11 is
labeled using a specific
antibody coupled to gold
particles (in black in the
photo) with “negative-
staining” contrast. ( B. Burdin,
CT µ UCB-Lyon )