The EMBO practical course on Electron Microscopy and Stereology in Cell Biology

This is a course about the production of thin sections of biological material and their use in studying ultrastructure in the context of molecular cell biology and in obtaining quantitative 3D information about objects from 2D measurements by means of stereology. The course will introduce the techniques of cryosectioning, rapid freezing methods as an alternative to chemical fixation, freeze substitution, resin embedding and stereologic methods for determining volumes of objects, surface areas, a number of particles and mean particle volumes. It will instruct participants in the sectioning of suitably prepared material and will then concentrate on the use of these sections for localizing specific molecules within cells. Ample time will be given to hands on practical work as well as formal and informal discussion of available techniques.