7.
LITERATURE CITED
263
large container. Actually the sodium should be added fairly quickly to
the methyl alcohol, and a temperature above 50°C is desirable for the
reaction to occur. Substantial quantities of alcohol are apt to evaporate
during this process, and the original level of this should be approximately
maintained. When the sodium is completely dissolved, an equal volume
of benzene is added. If a phase boundary is present, additional methyl
alcohol then must be added until the resulting mixture clears. This stock
solution, approximately 50 ml, then is stored in a dark bottle and used as
a solvent for epoxy resins, either at full strength, or diluted with a mixture
of equal parts of methyl alcohol and benzene. Solution of the epoxy resin
can be expected to take place rapidly (30 seconds to 3 minutes depending
upon thickness of the section). For sections more than 2 microns thick,
the solvent should be used undiluted; otherwise it is diluted one third
with the methyl alcohol and benzene mixture.
In our own limited experience there is no question but that some components of epoxy resins are removed by this treatment, yet we have
doubted that we achieved complete solution. Also, we have not found
that this treatment necessarily allowed us to achieve vivid staining
reactions. Munger (1961) also notes that staining properties may be
greatly altered after treatments with this highly reactive solvent. Thus,
there remains doubt as to the general usefulness of the technique. It
perhaps may prove most useful with phase contrast microscopy.
LITERATURE CITED
Arhelger, R. B., Gronvall, J. A., Carr, O. B., and Brunson, J. G. (1963). Lab.
Invest.
12, 33.
Baxendall, J., Perlmann, P., and Afzelius, B. A. (1962). /. Cell Biol
14, 144.
Baxendall, J., Perlmann, P., and Afzelius, B. A. (1963). /. Roy. Microscop.
Soc. 81, 155.
Bencosme, S. A., Stone, R. S., Latta, H., and Madden, S. C. (1959). /. Biophys.
Biochem.
Cytol
5, 508.
Bullivant, S., and Hotchin, J. (1960). Exptl.
Cell Research
21, 211.
Callahan, W. P., and Horner, J. A. (1964). /. Cell. Biol
20, 350.
Caro, L. G. (1961). /. Biophys.
Biochem.
Cytol. 10, 37.
Caro, L. G. (1962). /. Cell Biol. 15, 189.
Caro, L. G., and Tubergen, R. P. van (1962). /. Cell Biol
15, 173.
Daems, W. Th., and Persijn, J. P. (1963). /. Roy. Microscop.
Soc. 81, 199.
Dalton, A. J., and Zeigel, R. F. (1960). /. Cell Biol
7, 409.
Estable-Puig, J. F., Bauer, W. C, and Blumberg, J. M. (1964). J. Cell Biol
(in press).
Feldman, D. G. (1962). /. Cell Biol
15, 592.
Gautier, A. (1960). Experientia
16, 124.
Granboulan, P. (1963). /. Roy. Microscop.
Soc. 81, 165.
LITERATURE CITED
263
large container. Actually the sodium should be added fairly quickly to
the methyl alcohol, and a temperature above 50°C is desirable for the
reaction to occur. Substantial quantities of alcohol are apt to evaporate
during this process, and the original level of this should be approximately
maintained. When the sodium is completely dissolved, an equal volume
of benzene is added. If a phase boundary is present, additional methyl
alcohol then must be added until the resulting mixture clears. This stock
solution, approximately 50 ml, then is stored in a dark bottle and used as
a solvent for epoxy resins, either at full strength, or diluted with a mixture
of equal parts of methyl alcohol and benzene. Solution of the epoxy resin
can be expected to take place rapidly (30 seconds to 3 minutes depending
upon thickness of the section). For sections more than 2 microns thick,
the solvent should be used undiluted; otherwise it is diluted one third
with the methyl alcohol and benzene mixture.
In our own limited experience there is no question but that some components of epoxy resins are removed by this treatment, yet we have
doubted that we achieved complete solution. Also, we have not found
that this treatment necessarily allowed us to achieve vivid staining
reactions. Munger (1961) also notes that staining properties may be
greatly altered after treatments with this highly reactive solvent. Thus,
there remains doubt as to the general usefulness of the technique. It
perhaps may prove most useful with phase contrast microscopy.
LITERATURE CITED
Arhelger, R. B., Gronvall, J. A., Carr, O. B., and Brunson, J. G. (1963). Lab.
Invest.
12, 33.
Baxendall, J., Perlmann, P., and Afzelius, B. A. (1962). /. Cell Biol
14, 144.
Baxendall, J., Perlmann, P., and Afzelius, B. A. (1963). /. Roy. Microscop.
Soc. 81, 155.
Bencosme, S. A., Stone, R. S., Latta, H., and Madden, S. C. (1959). /. Biophys.
Biochem.
Cytol
5, 508.
Bullivant, S., and Hotchin, J. (1960). Exptl.
Cell Research
21, 211.
Callahan, W. P., and Horner, J. A. (1964). /. Cell. Biol
20, 350.
Caro, L. G. (1961). /. Biophys.
Biochem.
Cytol. 10, 37.
Caro, L. G. (1962). /. Cell Biol. 15, 189.
Caro, L. G., and Tubergen, R. P. van (1962). /. Cell Biol
15, 173.
Daems, W. Th., and Persijn, J. P. (1963). /. Roy. Microscop.
Soc. 81, 199.
Dalton, A. J., and Zeigel, R. F. (1960). /. Cell Biol
7, 409.
Estable-Puig, J. F., Bauer, W. C, and Blumberg, J. M. (1964). J. Cell Biol
(in press).
Feldman, D. G. (1962). /. Cell Biol
15, 592.
Gautier, A. (1960). Experientia
16, 124.
Granboulan, P. (1963). /. Roy. Microscop.
Soc. 81, 165.