J Djano1, B Griffin, I van Bruggen, P G McMenamin. 1. Department of Anatomy and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands Perth, 6907, Western Australia.
Abstract
AIMS: To demonstrate the value of environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) when used in combination with immunogold/silver enhancement methods as a valuable tool in ocular research, and to determine the phenotype of macrophages associated with the tunica vasculosa lentis while maintaining a topographical view of the lens surface. METHODS: Prenatal and postnatal rat eyes were investigated by conventional scanning electron microscopy and ESEM. In the latter case tissues were prestained with a panel of antileucocyte monoclonal antibodies and visualised with colloidal gold conjugated secondary antibody followed by silver enhancement. RESULTS: The preliminary data demonstrate that ED1(+) ED2(+) macrophages occur in large numbers around the lens and are associated with sectors of both normal vessels and those undergoing regression. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that ESEM is an ideal way to combine scanning electron microscopy with immunohistochemistry and is therefore likely to have multiple other applications in ocular research.
AIMS: To demonstrate the value of environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) when used in combination with immunogold/silver enhancement methods as a valuable tool in ocular research, and to determine the phenotype of macrophages associated with the tunica vasculosa lentis while maintaining a topographical view of the lens surface. METHODS: Prenatal and postnatal rat eyes were investigated by conventional scanning electron microscopy and ESEM. In the latter case tissues were prestained with a panel of antileucocyte monoclonal antibodies and visualised with colloidal gold conjugated secondary antibody followed by silver enhancement. RESULTS: The preliminary data demonstrate that ED1(+) ED2(+) macrophages occur in large numbers around the lens and are associated with sectors of both normal vessels and those undergoing regression. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that ESEM is an ideal way to combine scanning electron microscopy with immunohistochemistry and is therefore likely to have multiple other applications in ocular research.