Multi-User Equipment: Purchase of Preparatory Cryoinstrumentation for Electron Microscopy

冷冻固定法是一种保存细胞超微结构的优良技术。作为我们努力建立最先进的电子显微镜设施的一步，我们请求支持购买三项用于冷冻制备电子显微镜材料的设备。最近开发的高压快速冷冻设备可以固定厚度达0.5毫米的组织，而不会在常压下超快速冷冻厚重组织时造成冰晶损伤。该自动冷冻替代处理机方便了多个冷冻固定的样品，减少了二次冰晶对组织的损害的机会，允许方便的低温树脂渗透，并提高了冷冻替代的质量和重复性。这些仪器将支持对藻类、真菌、植物、昆虫和脊椎动物的系统、发展和生态研究。该设备将用于一个新组织的多用户电子显微镜设施，该设施位于一座最近建造的生物科学大楼内。有一个主要的大学费用分担部分，包括资助第二个电子显微镜技术员的职位。

Cryofixation is emerging as the superior technique for ultrastructural preservation of cells. As a step in our efforts to build-up a state-of-the-art electron microscopy facility, we request support for purchase of three items of equipment used in cryopreparation of material for electron microscopy. The recently developed high-pressure fast-freezing device allows tissues up to 0.5 mm in thickness to be fixed without the ice crystal damage accompanying ultra-rapid freezing of thick tissues at ambient pressure. The automatic freeze substitution processor facilitates multiple cryofixed samples, reduces chances of secondary ice crystal damage to tissue, allows convenient low temperature infiltration of resins, and increases quality and reproductivity of freeze-substitution. These instruments will support systematic, developmental, and ecological studies of algae, fungi, plants, insects and vertebrates. The equipment will be used in a newly organized multi-user electron microscope facility located in a recently constructed biological sciences building. There is a major university cost-sharing component, including funding of a second electron microscope technician's position.