Various fixation methods for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were tested on Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. By combining various techniques, using 3.4% chitinase in combination with 1% alpha-chymotripsin, we were able to establish a new fixation procedure that for the first time preserves both membranes and internal cellular ultrastructure of C. elegans embryos in different stages of development. This unique procedure will enable a hitherto unattainable standard for TEM research of C. elegans embryos. Sectioning of specific developmental stages fixed with this method allows a detailed study of ultrastructural aspects of embryogenesis.
Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.