Cryomicrotomy of renal tissue, and the use of x-ray microanalysis and autoradiography at the light and electron microscopic levels

The topics covered by this chapter are in a sense disparate and yet are interrelated in the context of renal study in that they are aspects of the discipline which the authors know as cytochemistry. Although the three areas share certain common features it will be most convenient for the reader if they are treated as separate technical entities pointing out overlap where appropriate. Clearly, it will be deemed desirable by readers of this series to examine the role of cryomicrotomy, X-ray microanalysis and autoradiography in existing studies of renal function and malfunction. Nevertheless the authors should also be concerned with the future exploitation of these techniques in kidney investigation. Hence it will from time to time be advantageous to illustrate certain methods by reference to non-renal examples in the absence of evidence in the kidney itself