SEM studies of gastric cell surface epithelium: an evaluation of various methods of preparation.

Observation of gastric surface epithelial cells using scanning electron microscopy is usually hampered by the presence of an opaque material coating the stomach mucosa. In the present report, we describe the results obtained with 3 different techniques of preparations. Enzymatic digestion followed by a mechanical action permitted effective and consistent removal of the opaque coating without apparent damage ot the cellular epithelium.