Improved contrast in cytochemistry of dehydrogenases by scanning transmission electron microscopy.

A scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) was used to examine ultrathin sections of rabbit white skeletal muscle. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was localized in the tissue using the tetra-nitro blue tetrazolium (TNBT) method. For most specimens postfixation was omitted in order to avoid reoxidation and solubilization of the formazan by osmium tetroxide. The STEM image revealed sufficient contrast of the intracellular structures and apparently electron-dense reaction product in the sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Substantially less contrast was obtained when the same areas were observed