A Quantitative Study of Freeze-Fractured Biological Membranes Using an Image Analyzer

A quantitative analysis of modulations in distribution of intramembrane particles (IMPs) in freeze-fractured cell membranes was carried out using an image analyzer. The membranes studied were the oolemmas of starfish oocytes during maturation. From each micrograph of P-face images, one or two region...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of electron microscopy 1984, Vol.33 (4), p.363-370
Main Authors: USUI, Noriko, TAKAHASHI, Ichiro, KOGA, Tomio, KAWAGUCHI, Junzo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Membrane - ultrastructure
Cell membranes. Ionic channels. Membrane pores
Cell structures and functions
Female
Freeze Fracturing
freeze-fracture
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Image analyzer
Intramembrane particle
maturation
Microscopy, Electron - methods
Molecular and cellular biology
oocyte
Oocytes - growth & development
Oocytes - ultrastructure
plasma membranes
Starfish
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Summary:A quantitative analysis of modulations in distribution of intramembrane particles (IMPs) in freeze-fractured cell membranes was carried out using an image analyzer. The membranes studied were the oolemmas of starfish oocytes during maturation. From each micrograph of P-face images, one or two regions were selected, then introduced into the analyzer. After homogenization of the background within the chosen region, the IMPs were counted and the areas of individual white shadows of the IMPs were measured. The data from each designated region were stored in the memory and subsequently analyzed. Following calculations, (1) the total IMP density and (2) a distribution histogram of IMP size, expressed as IMP density, were obtained for each of the specimens. The IMPs on the same micrographs were also counted manually and the counts were compared with the results obtained with the analyzer. Both analyses revealed similar modulations in IMP distribution throughout maturation. This study has shown that the image analyzer is useful for statistical analysis of freeze-fracture images of biological membranes as long as the IMPs are distributed uniformly.
ISSN:0022-0744
1477-9986
1477-9986
DOI:10.1093/oxfordjournals.jmicro.a050476