[A method for the chemical treatment of cells for the purpose of the subsequent study of the same cell culture preparation by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy].

Cells cultured on transparent conductive substrates (glass coated with indium oxide) were fixed with aldehyde and osmium tetroxide and then treated with tannic acid, uranyl acetate and lead citrate. The same cell culture preparation could be sequentially studied by light microscopy (in water immersed condition), SEM (after dehydration and critical point drying) and TEM (after embedding in an epoxy resin). This method ensures the preservation of intact cell morphology, cell surface topography and intracellular structures. The treatments used render the cells conductivity and permit to carry out successfully SEM of uncoated cells cultured on conductive substrates. This method also provides a higher contrast of TEM images.