Effectiveness of elastase with HCl method for cell surface visualization.

Elastase was used with the HCl method to eliminate extracellular materials such as collagen, basal lamina and elastin for visualization of cell surfaces in the pecten capillary of the chick. The surfaces of the endothelial processes of the pecten capillary were revealed more beautifully by scanning electron microscopy when elastase was applied following HCl treatment than when the HCl-collagenase method was used. In addition, elastase could shorten the incubation time of HCl.