Comparison of surface roughness of sections cut by diamond, sapphire, and glass knives

Low-angle chromium metal shadowing was used to compare the surface roughness of ultrathin sections cut with diamond, sapphire, and glass knives. Surface roughness was less on diamond-cut and sapphire-cut sections than on glass-cut sections, and was greater over tissue than resin, and greatest over red blood cells and mitochondria. Surface roughness contributed to image density variation and thereby lowered contrast and informational content of the sectioned tissue.