Cytochemical study of glycogen in myoblasts of the chick embryo myotome

Abstract

Potassium ferrocyanide-reduced osmium has been used as secondary fixative to study the presence of glycogen in different tissues. However, this method has not been previously applied to skeletal muscle development research. This study reports the use of this method to analyze the structure and cytoplasmic distribution of glycogen particles in the myoblasts of the brachial myotome of chicken embryos at 51-105 h. of incubation (Hamburger and Hamilton stages 16 to 25).In those sections post-fixed with potassium-ferrocyanide reduced osmium it is observed that glycogen particles stain in contrast to the rest of the structures of the cell (Figs. 1,2). In those sections processed for T.E.M., following conventional methods, glycogen particles are occasionally observed in less contrast and number that those with potassium-ferrocyanide reduced osmium. An explanation for this differences might be in the effects of potassium-ferrocyanide reduced osmium fixation preventing the loss of glycogen during dehydration and staining with uranyl acetate. We conclude that this cytochemical method may be specific for glycogen detection.