Identification of glycogen in electron micrographs of thin tissue sections

Abstract

The electron microscopic appearance of glycogen has been studied in the organs of several animal species. Glycogen almost always appears as roughly circular granules from 150 to 400 A in diameter. The intrinsic electron density of glycogen varies from tissue to tissue; however, treatment with lead hydroxide as described by Watson deeply stains the granules. Glycogen pellets were isolated from some of the tissues studied by centrifugation. Such pellets were shown to be glycogen by chemical and histochemical criteria. When thin sections of the pellet are examined under the electron microscope they can be seen to consist of densely packed granules similar to those found in the intact tissues. Such pellets are also stained for electron microscopy by short exposure to lead hydroxide.