The Low Temperature Vacuum Embedding Technique for X-ray Microanalysis of the Developing Inner Ear

Abstract

The method of low-temperature embedding in vacua using methacrylate resins, was tested for X-ray microanalysis of the embryonic inner ear of the CBA/CBA mouse. Fetal inner ears were examined on gestational days 16 and 18. The technique was evaluated in comparison with earlier used preparation techniques for X-ray microanalysis. With plastic embedding, an improvement of the morphological resolution was achieved, which allows reliable structural identification on the subcellular level. Furthermore, the possibility of orientating of the specimen prior to sectioning provides a better controlled and less time-consuming sectioning.

Key Words:

• X-ray microanalysis
• low-temperature embedding
• embryonic development
• inner ear