Ultrastructural quantification of microtubules in complete cell profiles

Abstract

The ultrastructural morphometric quantification of cytoplasmic microtubular distribution densities requires electron micro­graph magnifications whereby only small cytoplasmic areas are included per negative. Consecutive electron micrographs can be composed in montages to attain complete profiles of high magnification cell sections. Conventional morphometric methods are not suitable for application on areas that may be as great or even greater than 1 m² in size. Modifications of conventional morphometric technology to facilitate investigations of this nature are described. Statistical comparison of results obtained with this method and a standard method reflect the soundness of the modifications.