Use of chellators in the electron microscopic detection of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase.

Even when using modified WACHSTEIN-MEISEL procedure for the detection of mitochondrial ATP-ase it is difficult to avoid the non-specific reaction. Separation of the artefact from the precipitate of citric hydrolysis can be carried out only with difficulty. 20 mM of penicillin G amine or 40 mM of ascorbic acid in the incubation solution leads to selective localization. Ascorbic acid can also be used in the form of a 0.2 M tris and 0.05 M ascorbic acid buffer. With the use of chellators it is possible to eliminate factors which under pathological conditions greatly favour the formation of the artefact.