Preface to the Second Edition
The first edition of this book was written at a time when there
seemed to be relative technical stability in the field it encompassed. The
handling of methacrylate-embedded material had been mastered! It is
true that cross-linked plastic embedments had just been introduced, but
their use was fraught with so many unresolved difficulties that they did
not seem an immediate challenge. Yet this was only four years ago! In
effect the first edition of this volume turned out to be an obituary to the
"methacrylate age."
The introduction of thermostable plastics as embedding media began
a revolution that is not yet over by any means, and necessitated this
revision. We have come to realize from these embedments how well preserved fine structure can be. We have been forced to seek these technical
goals as routine achievements, and in a large measure have been successful.
A new technology for handling cross-linked plastic embedments has
developed in the last four years to such an extent that once again we
have an armamentarium that is reasonably reliable, even though it is
still rapidly expanding. It is a much richer methodology than before,
for it includes, in addition to new embedments, new ways of preserving
specimens, new stains, and ancillary techniques such as "negative staining," autoradiography, and conjugated antibody staining. All of these
deserve treatment in this new edition; indeed it has seemed necessary to
add two new chapters to accommodate them.
Inevitably, the variety of techniques presently to be discussed forces
certain changes in the character of this book. It is no longer possible
to emphasize one single method which a beginner can learn to become
established. Now the beginner has many more technical choices so that
this book cannot be as dogmatic as before. The veritable smorgasbord
now available forces me to write more of a reference book than the first
edition, and the lists of literature cited have grown enormously in several
chapters even though the material included has remained deliberately
selective. Also, it has been impossible for me to have as direct personal
experience with every method described as I would have liked. In certain
sections, such as those which deal with autoradiography and antibody
ix
The first edition of this book was written at a time when there
seemed to be relative technical stability in the field it encompassed. The
handling of methacrylate-embedded material had been mastered! It is
true that cross-linked plastic embedments had just been introduced, but
their use was fraught with so many unresolved difficulties that they did
not seem an immediate challenge. Yet this was only four years ago! In
effect the first edition of this volume turned out to be an obituary to the
"methacrylate age."
The introduction of thermostable plastics as embedding media began
a revolution that is not yet over by any means, and necessitated this
revision. We have come to realize from these embedments how well preserved fine structure can be. We have been forced to seek these technical
goals as routine achievements, and in a large measure have been successful.
A new technology for handling cross-linked plastic embedments has
developed in the last four years to such an extent that once again we
have an armamentarium that is reasonably reliable, even though it is
still rapidly expanding. It is a much richer methodology than before,
for it includes, in addition to new embedments, new ways of preserving
specimens, new stains, and ancillary techniques such as "negative staining," autoradiography, and conjugated antibody staining. All of these
deserve treatment in this new edition; indeed it has seemed necessary to
add two new chapters to accommodate them.
Inevitably, the variety of techniques presently to be discussed forces
certain changes in the character of this book. It is no longer possible
to emphasize one single method which a beginner can learn to become
established. Now the beginner has many more technical choices so that
this book cannot be as dogmatic as before. The veritable smorgasbord
now available forces me to write more of a reference book than the first
edition, and the lists of literature cited have grown enormously in several
chapters even though the material included has remained deliberately
selective. Also, it has been impossible for me to have as direct personal
experience with every method described as I would have liked. In certain
sections, such as those which deal with autoradiography and antibody
ix