A direct micromethod for the preparation of blood platelets and thrombocytes for electron microscopy

Abstract

A micromethod for the preparation of small volumes of whole blood (down to .05ml) for ultrastructural studies is described. It uses standard haematological equipment with minimal centrifugation, and by employing immediate and brief pre-fixation in glutaraldehyde, avoids the use of anticoagulants, thus ensuring preservation of undistorted morphology and ultrastructure in all cell types. A large number of small compact buffy coat preparations can be produced rapidly and consistently, in which stratification is maintained during subsequent processing; this allows examination of the stratification at either the light or electron microscope level. The method makes haematological studies in small animals possible. Platelets and thrombocytes from a wide range of mammalian and avian species, having large or small blood volumes, have been examined.