Sensory organs in a cavernicolous insect after cryofixation without cryoprotectants: a comparative ultrastructural study

Three different sensory organs (one mechanoreceptor, one chemoreceptor and one chemo-mechanoreceptor) of the antennae of the cavernicolous Coleoptera Speonomus hydrophilus and S. zophosinus have been compared by means of electron microscopy after chemical fixation or cryofixation without cryoprotectant; when cryofixation succeeds, cells and organelles have a different appearance from the chemically fixed ones: they have rounded and smooth outlines and are more electron-dense; some very fine details, such as tubulinc sub-units of microtubules, are perceptible after cryofixation only. However, chemical fixation gives much more reproducible results than cryofixation; moreover, when good cryofixation is achieved preservation of cells and organelles is satisfactory only for the peripheral region; large ice-crystals more or less destroying the central zone, except the nerves. In short, chemical fixation and cryofixation appear as complementary techniques: chemical fixation must be used as a routine fixation and cryofixation when specially good cell and molecular preservation must be achieved for peripheral tissues only.