Isolation and Embedding of Single Nerve Cells for Electron Microscopy

Abstract

Individual neurons have been isolated by freehand dissection under binocular, 40-100 power magnification from the lateral vestibular nucleus of fresh rabbit brain. The cells were fixed with glutaraldehyde and OsO₄ and dehydrated in 33%, 50%, 60% (v/v) and pure Durcupan A prior to embedding in Araldite 502. Blocks were cast in lids of BEEM capsules. The locating of the individually embedded cells and trimming of the blocks were facilitated by means of a holder that permitted visualization in both diffuse transmitted and incident light.