Abstract

Quantitative measurements on electron micrographs of heart muscle can yield information useful for cellular physiologists and at present not obtainable in other ways. These methods are subject to preparative artifact, sampling problems, and problems inherent in the mathematical description of ultrastructure. Nevertheless they provide the best available data for membrane areas of the plasmalemma and its components, as well as for membrane areas of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Morphometric methods can be used to study growth of membranes. Changes in the volumes of intracellular membrane-limited subcompartments can also be measured. Quantitative analysis of freeze-fractured membrane replicas can be carried out either by a statistical approach or by optical diffraction. In this way, physiological perturbations or developmental events leading to changes in membrane permeability can be studied for correlated changes in membrane structure.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.