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

冷冻固定是细胞超微结构保存的上级技术。作为我们努力建立最先进的电子显微镜设施的一个步骤，我们请求支持购买用于冷冻制备电子显微镜材料的三件设备。最近开发的高压快速冷冻装置允许固定厚度达0.5 mm的组织，而不会在环境压力下超快速冷冻厚组织时造成冰晶损伤。自动冷冻置换处理器便于多个冷冻固定的样品，减少了对组织的二次冰晶损伤的机会，允许方便的树脂低温渗透，并提高了冷冻置换的质量和再现性。这些仪器将支持藻类、真菌、植物、昆虫和脊椎动物的系统、发育和生态研究。该设备将用于新组建的多用户电子显微镜设施，该设施位于最近建造的生物科学大楼内。有一个主要的大学费用分摊部分，包括资助第二个电子显微镜技术员职位。

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.