Immunogold labelling of membrane receptors for scanning electron microscopical investigations of genetically determined disorders of lipid metabolism.

Receptors binding of low-density lipoprotein at surfaces of human lymphocytes was studied by immunochemical and scanning electron microscopical methods. Using colloidal gold sol binding ability of cells from several probands could be demonstrated by immunolabelling. We investigated cell material from normolipidaemic persons and from patients with heterozygote autosomal monogenic hypercholesterolaemia. We found a distinct decrease of labelled gold particles at the cell surface of patients with this disorder of lipid metabolism. The simple extraction possibility of lymphocytes from human venous blood and the demonstrated scanning electron microscopical results recommend the described procedure for genetic application.