A Correlative Fluorescent and Electron Microscopic Technique for Ultralocalization of Trichocyte Keratins
January 2021
in “
Springer Proceedings in Materials
”
TLDR Researchers developed a new method to clearly see and label hair proteins with minimal errors using advanced freezing and microscopy techniques.
The study presented a novel sample preparation method for confocal fluorescent and electron microscopy of high-pressure frozen and freeze-substituted wool follicles. This technique allowed for clear ultrastructural preservation and keratin labeling while minimizing common artifacts associated with conventional fixation methods. The use of dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (DF-STEM) provided sufficient contrast to obtain high-resolution images without the need for post-staining or silver enhancement, facilitating the detailed study of trichocyte keratin heterodimers and their organization within hair follicles.
