Freeze-fracture-autoradiography.

A new method for the electron microscope autoradiography of soluble substances in frozen tissue is described. The basic features of the method are freeze fracturing, the application of a suitable monolayer followed by exposure at low temperature and finally the separation of tissue and the replica-monolayer-sandwich after photographic processing. The advantages and limitations of the new method are discussed in terms of monolayer quality, contact, histochemography, resolution, freezing and recrystallisation artefacts.