Low‐temperature and conventional scanning electron microscopy of human urothelial neoplasms

Abstract

The appearance of neoplastic human urothelium viewed by low-temperature scanning electron microscopy (LTSEM) and conventional scanning electron microscopy (CSEM) was compared. Fixed, dehydrated neoplastic cells viewed by CSEM had well-defined, often raised cell junctions; no intercellular gaps; and varying degrees of pleomorphic surface microvilli. The frozen hydrated material viewed by LTSEM, however, was quite different. The cells had a flat or dimpled surface, but no microvilli. There were labyrinthine lateral processes which interdigitated with those of adjacent cells and outlined large intercellular gaps. The process of fixation and dehydration will inevitably distort cell contours and on theoretical grounds, the images of frozen hydrated material should more closely resemble the in vivo appearance.

Electrolyte Levels in Neoplastic and Nonneoplastic Human Urothelium After Ouabain Treatment: X-Ray Microanalysis of Bulk Hydrated Samples

“…There is potential for the application of LTSEM and XRMA in the determination of electrolyte changes associated with disease processes. Despite numer-ous technical difficulties associated with the technique [l-31, studies of electrolyte levels in neoplastic and nonneoplastic human urothelium have been carried out successfully [3,7,121. From these studies, it has been found that the electrolyte ratios Kf/P, K+/Na+, and Kf/CIin neoplastic cells are significantly higher than in nonneoplastic cells.…”