Electron energy-loss spectroscopical and image analysis of experimentally induced rat microliths. II.

Following a microlith-inducing diet of ethylene glycol plus ammonium chloride, intraluminal and intracellular crystals are observed in aldehyde-fixed rat proximal and distal tubule cells by light and electron microscopy. Qualitative, in-situ analysis with electron-probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) of these intraluminal and intracellular crystals shows the presence of calcium, a trace of magnesium, some chlorine and the virtual absence of phosphorus and sulphur. Electron energy-loss spectroscopical element (EELS) analysis and electron-spectroscopic imaging (ESI) confirm, at both sites, the presence of calcium.

An ultrastructural study of experimentally induced microliths in rat proximal and distal tubules.

Calcium oxalate stone formation was induced in rats by oral application of ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride for 4, 8 and 24 days. After each induction period, light-microscopically, birefringent crystals were seen in the tubular lumen and, intracellularly, in proximal and distal tubular cells. After a postfixation which partially removed the crystalline material crystal ghosts were seen by electron microscopy.

The effect of two new semi-synthetic glycosaminoglycans (G871, G872) on the zeta potential of calcium oxalate crystals and on growth and agglomeration.

The effects of two new semisynthetic glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), G871 and G872, on the crystal growth and agglomeration of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) were studied in artificial urine in vitro. A constant composition crystallization system and a seeded crystal growth system were used to measure the rate of crystal growth and degree of agglomeration. The zeta potential on the crystal surface was measured using a Coulter DELSA 440 doppler electrophoretic light scattering analyzer.

Quantitative analysis of electron energy-loss spectra from ultrathin-sectioned biological material. II. The application of bio-standards for quantitative analysis.

Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) has been used to determine elemental concentrations in biological specimens, consisting of ultrathin-sectioned cells and tissues. Chelex100-based Ca- and Fe Bio-standards are used for elemental quantification to establish iron and calcium concentrations. These Bio-standards, as well as the biological materials, are treated in a standard EM procedure such that 'known' and 'unknown' sites are located in one cross-section.

Quantitative analysis of electron energy-loss spectra from ultrathin-sectioned biological material. I. Optimization of the background-fit with the use of Bio-standards.

A computer program for quantitative spectral analysis is proposed for the elemental analysis of biological material by electron energy-loss spectroscopy in a conventional transmission electron microscope, the Zeiss EM902. Bio-standards are used to test the performance of this program. The application of a simplex optimization method for curve-fitting is proposed to separate the ionization edge from the background.