The use of a simple method to avoid cell shrinkage during SEM preparation.

In the course of preparing specimens for scanning electron microscopy, both glutaraldehyde and OsO4-fixed cells exhibit a considerable shrinkage with a reduction of the mean cellular diameter of about 45% after critical point drying. However, if cells are successively treated with glutaraldehyde, OsO4, tannic acid and uranyl acetate solutions, cellular shrinkage of only 5% is observed.