Periodic acid thiosemicarbazide gelatin methenamine silver (PATSC-GMS) staining for transmission electron microscopy.

A new electron microscopic method is described in which superior staining of basement membranes, collagen fibers and glycogen particles in various tissues was achieved. This method uses a gelatin methenamine silver solution applied to the ultrathin sections on nickel grids after oxidation in a periodic acid. The staining results were excellent and tissue components were evenly stained with no background silver grains. This method proved to be consistent, reproducible and reliable.