Dimensional changes of cultured smooth muscle cells due to preparatory processes for transmission electron microscopy

The change in volume of cultured smooth muscle cells prepared with four different fixation procedures for transmission electron microscopy was studied. Although the cells showed swelling after being embedded in Spurr's embedding medium, the degree of swelling depended on the particular method of fixation procedure used. When the volume of the cells measured using transmission electron microscopy was compared with that of the fresh cell volume, cells prepared by two of the methods showed swelling, and cellular shrinkage was noted in the other two methods. One method which caused the least amount of volume change is recommended for quantitative electron microscopic study of vertebrate smooth muscle cell systems.