As an extension of our ultracytochemical studies on the cell membrane, phosphotungstic acid (PTA) staining dissolved in various media was applied to the microvillus membranes of the cat small intestine. The staining was performed on ultrathin epon sections of fixed specimens. In many cases oxidation or bleaching of epon sections by performic acid (PF), hydrogen peroxide (PO) or periodic acid (PA) was done prior to the PTA staining.
In general, the PFP (PTA dissolved in ddw or HCl) method, the POP (PTA dissolved in ddw or HCl) and the PAP (PTA dissolved in chromic acid) gave good stainability of epon sections. However, among these three methods the most reproducible results were obtained by the PFP method.
The PFP reaction was positive in the glycocalyx, the apical and lateral membranes, apical vesicles, the maturing face of the Golgi complex and lysosomes of the absorptive epithelia and the goblet cells, mucigen granules in the goblet cells, granules of basal granulated cells and capillary endothelia, reticular and collagen fibrils and the basement lamina. It was of great interest to find an electron density spanning the plasma membrane in addition to the unit membrane-like structure.
In order to elucidate the chemical nature of the PFP positive substances spanning the plasma membrane the PFP reaction was performed on specimens fixed in various fixatives, digested by various enzymes or extracted in an organic solvent, and on pure model samples. The data obtained thus far seem to indicate that the electron density spanning the plasma membrane observed in specimens stained by the PFP method is due to phospholipids and/or glycolipids in the membrane.
It may also be stressed that the PAP, POP, or PFP reactions in general, and in particular the PFP reaction because of its high reproducibility, are extremely useful as conventional substitutes for the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) -type reaction under the electron microscope, and can be performed quite easily on epon sections.
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