APPENDIX II 

 AN EFFICIENT PROCEDURE FOR STAINING LARGE NUMBERS 

 OF ELECTRON MICROSCOPE GRIDS 



This paper describes a simple tubular device which can be 

 used to stain large numbers of electron microscope grids 

 simultaneously. Staining and rinsing of ultrathin sections 

 mounted on individual grids are time-consuming and tedious if 

 grids are handled individually according to the usual 

 techniques recommended for electron microscopy (Hayat, 1970). 

 In addition, the repeated use of forceps may damage the support 

 films and grids. Therefore, several attempts have been made 

 for simultaneous staining of many grids (Chen, 1973; Fisher, 

 1972; Godkin, 1977; Gorycki, 1978; Hiraoka, 1972; Robertson and 

 Roberts, 1971). However, most of these devices are either 

 difficult to construct or use. 



These studies revealed that any polyethylene tubing with an 

 exterior diameter of 3 mm can be used. Tubes such as those 

 found in ordinary commercial ball-point pens (with an interior 

 diameter of 1.5 mm) were most satisfactory for this purpose. 

 All it requires is that a few holes must be cut into the tubing 

 so that grids can be inserted and anchored while being stained 

 and rinsed (Fig. 57). The diamond-shaped and circular holes 

 are made using a needle-point scalpel. The tubes should be 



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