Faculty Collaboration Database

Superior preservation of the staphylococcal glycocalyx with aldehyde-ruthenium red and select lysine salts using extended fixation times. Microsc Res Tech 1998 May 15;41(4):291-7

Date

06/20/1998

Pubmed ID

9633947

DOI

10.1002/(SICI)1097-0029(19980515)41:4<291::AID-JEMT2>3.0.CO;2-U

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0032523772 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   20 Citations

Abstract

The utility of lysine-based aldehyde-ruthenium red fixatives for the preservation and/or staining of the fibrous staphylococcal glycocalyx was improved by substitution of alternative forms of lysine for the free amino form. Paraformaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixatives containing alternative lysines, with or without ruthenium red, were compared at short 20-minute prefixation times and at extended overnight fixation times. Although inclusion of paraformaldehyde made longer fixation times possible, the length of time for "safe" fixation varied per sample and could not be predicted. All alternative lysine forms permitted fixation of at least 24 hours without sample loss. The L-lysine monohydrochloride or L-lysine acetate forms permitted longer fixation times than the L-lysine free amino form, and they had comparable or better preservation of the staphylococcal glycocalyx. Thus, the usefulness of aldehyde-lysine-based fixatives with minor changes has been enhanced.

Author List

Fassel TA, Mozdziak PE, Sanger JR, Edmiston CE

Author

James R. Sanger MD Professor in the Plastic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aldehydes
Fixatives
Glycocalyx
Humans
Lysine
Microscopy, Electron
Ruthenium Red
Staining and Labeling
Staphylococcus
Time Factors