The element distribution in ultrathin cryosections of cultivated fibroblast cells

Summary A preparation method for measurements of the intracellular distribution of elements in tissue culture cells is described which is based on cryofixation, cryoultramicrotomy, cryotransfer and X-ray microanalysis in a scanning transmission electron microscope. Dry weight concentrations of phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine and potassium in the nucleus, the cytoplasm and the mitochondria of L929 fibroblast cells of the mouse are reported. The preparation and quantitation procedures are discussed with respect to present limitations and possible improvements of the method.The paper was presented partly as a poster at the joint meeting on clectron microscopy of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Elektronenmikroskopie and the Belgische Vereniging voor Elektronenmikroskopie in Antwerpen, 11.–16. 09. 1983