Epon-Embedded Tissue Stained with Aldehyde-Fuchsin for Radioautography

Abstract

Four-week-old Holtzman rats were injected intraperitoneally with 20 μCi ¹²⁵I. Six or eight weeks later, they were killed by intracardiac perfusion with glutaraldehyde; thyroid and adrenal glands were excised, postfixed in osmic acid, and embedded in Epon. Steps in the staining procedure of 0.5-1 μm thick sections are: oxidation in 0.3% potassium permanganate in 0.625% sulfuric acid, 2-5 min at 70 C; brief rinse; bleaching with 2.5% NaHSO₃, 4-5 min; brief r-utse; let dry completely; aldehydefuchsm, 15-20 min at 50 C; 95% alcohol; rinse in absolute alcohol; let dry completely. seaions were coated with Kodak NTB2 emulsion and exposed for 3 to 8 weeks. Results indicate that (1) tissues are well stained even after an 8-week exposure, (2) aldehyde-fuchsin pduces no chemographic effect, and (3) structures underneath the emulsion are easily identified.