Table 1. Summary of sample preparation for TEM

Process	Chemical treatment	Temperature	Time involved
Primary fixation	Cells on Aclar film are fixed with 2.5% (w/v) glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer	Room temperature	1 h
Washings	Three times with 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer	4ºC	10 min
Secondary fixation	1% (w/v) osmium tetroxide in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer	Room temperature	1 h
Washings	Three times with 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer	4ºC	10 min
Dehydration	30% ethanol	Room temperature	10 min
	50% ethanol	Room temperature	10 min
	75% ethanol	Room temperature	10 min
	85% ethanol	Room temperature	10 min
	95% ethanol	Room temperature	10 min
	Absolute ethanol	Room temperature	1 h
Infiltration of resin	1:1 mixture of ethanol and Spurr’s resin	Room temperature	1.5 h
Embedding	100% Spurr’s resin	Room temperature	2 h
Curing	Aclar film is placed at the bottom of an aluminum plate in Spurr’s resin	60ºC	24 h