Preservation of ultrastructure in bone marrow with a glutaraldehyde-artificial blood perfusate.

A method of perfusion-fixation of bone marrow using a commercially available blood substitute as a vehicle for glutaraldehyde has been developed. Low magnification observations of sections by transmission electron microscopy revealed a high degree of integrity throughout the hematopoietic tissue. The continuity and fine structure of the sinusoidal endothelial cells were well preserved as evidenced by exclusion of ruthenium red/OsO4, and occasionally, stages of blood cell egress (diapedesis) across the sinusoidal lining were observed. The quality of fixation of cellular organelles was judged to be equal or superior to that obtained with the use of conventional buffer-based fixatives.