Fixation methods for electron microscopy of human and other liver

Figure 12 SEM micrograph of the fenestrated endothelial lining of a mouse portal-vein-perfused liver. Compare this figure with Figure 11, taken under exactly the same conditions. Comparison with TEM of plastic sections shows that mouse (and rat) fenestrae are bigger (140 nm) than human (and rabbit) fenestrae (105 nm). Measurements on this type of SEM preparation should be avoided, because the drying procedure results in about 30% shrinkage and incorrect measurement of all components in the tissue.