Structural variations of different oral basement membranes revealed by cationic dyes and detergent added to aldehyde fixative solution

Summary The ultrastructural appearance of different types of basement membrane was studied using histochemical methods for visualizing glycosaminoglycans. Samples of rat gingiva and mouse molar germ tissue were fixed either with glutaraldehyde, glutaraldehyde-ruthenium hexammine trichloride (RHT), glutaraldehyde-Cuprolinic Blue (CB) or cetylpyridinium chloride-glutaraldehyde (CPC). Ultrathin sections were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. The results showed that the conventional trilaminar structure of the basement membrane was observed after glutaraldehyde and CB fixation. In contrast, after CPC or RHT fixation, the appearance of the basement membrane was homogeneous without any evidence of a lamina lucida. Furthermore, after single fixation with CPC, the ultrastructure of different basement membranes from oral tissues showed some differences in appearance which were related to their localizations, functions, or both.