Abstract
AN attempt to use uranium as a fixing agent was apparently made as early as 1882 when Schenk1 noticed that uranium acetate had a mild fixing action and a high degree of penetration. The nitrate and acetate have since been used for special purposes by Cajal2, Nebel3 and others. Uranic acid as a substitute for osmic acid was introduced in this laboratory some years ago. Catcheside4, who kindly carried out a number of tests with this reagent, finally came to the conclusion that, although good fixation could be obtained, the effects were rather erratic, and La Cour5 later confirmed the views expressed by Catcheside. Semmens6 first gave a systematic account of the value of uranium as a substitute for osmium in fixatives employed for plant cytology; he also indicated the theoretical grounds for the use of this metal. In a later paper7 he further pointed out that the erratic fixation previously recorded appeared to be due to the variable composition of the so-called uranic acid of commerce. To overcome this difficulty he proposed the use of sodium diuranate (Na2U2O7), a compound that is much easier to standardize.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Schenk, "Bolles Lee", p. 51 (1937).
Cajal, R. Y., "Bolles Lee", p. 320.
Nebel, B. R., Z. Zellf. mikr. Anat., 16, 251 (1932).
Catcheside, D. G., Genetica, 17, 313 (1935).
La Cour, L., Bot. Rev., 3, 241 (1937).
Semmens, C. S., Microscope, 1, 29 (1937).
Semmens, C. S., Microscope, 3, 1 (1939).
Levitsky, G. A., Bull. Appl. Bot., 27, 175 (1931).
Bhaduri, P. N., J. Roy. Micro. Soc., 50 (1940).
Semmens, C. S., and Bhaduri, P. N., Stain Techn., 14, 1 (1939).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BHADURI, P., SEMMENS, C. Advantages of Uranium Fixation in Modern Cytological Technique. Nature 146, 100 (1940). https://doi.org/10.1038/146100a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/146100a0
This article is cited by
-
Improvements in plant cytological technique. II
The Botanical Review (1947)
-
Cytological analysis of structural hybridity inRhoeo discolor hance
Journal of Genetics (1942)
-
Application of new technique to cytogenetical reinvestigation of the genusTradescantia
Journal of Genetics (1942)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.