Vestopal W: a superior embedding medium for an electron microscope study of human epidermis.

Although the electron microscope has been in use for a relatively short time, it has become apparent that the demands made upon it for the study of the fine structure of the human epidermis and its appendages are becoming more exacting. Several advances which have led to the increased use and dependability of the electron microscope have been the development of more accurate mierotomes for cutting thin sections, adequate fixatives for preserving fine cellular detail, suitable knives for cutting thin sections and improved embedding media. The use of the resin n-butyl methacrylate as an embedding medium was introduced in 1949 by Newman, Borysko, and Swerdlow (1). Over the past years this has proved satisfactory, and at present is in widespread use. Kellenberger, Schwab and Ryter (2) in 1956, reported excellent results using a polyester as an embedding medium. Ryter and Kellenberger (3) in 1958 reported remarkable success using a copolymer of the polyester group (Vestopal W) as an embedding medium for electron microscopy. In a current study of human epidermis with the electron microscope it became evident after using mixtures of methyl and n-butyl juethaerylate and also Vestopal W for embedding purposes, that the latter was of sufficiently superior quality to justify this report.