A Microtome for Sectioning Critical Point Dried Tissues for SEM

In this short technical note the construction and use of a simple microtome for sectioning critical point dried (CPD) specimens mounted on stubs are outlined. The rigidity of CPD specimens allows for light microscopically controlled sectioning by which the internal structure of plant organs or individual cells becomes visible. If compared with cryo-fracturing, this sectioning technique enables repeated sectioning through any exactly chosen plane, cell or nucleus of the specimen