"Array tomography" is a method used to observe the fine structure of cells and tissues in a three-dimensional view. In this method, serial ultrathin sections in the ribbon state (ribbons) are mounted on a solid substrate and observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The method may also be used in conjunction with post-embedding immunocytochemistry. However, it is difficult to mount many serial ribbons on a substrate manually. We developed an inexpensive laboratory-made device that mounts ribbons by pulling a nylon fishing line and lifting the substrate up from the water in a knife boat. Using this device, we succeeded in mounting several ribbons consisting a mean of 205.6 (SD: 37.7) serial ultrathin sections on 1.25 (SD: 0.06) × 1.25 (SD: 0.06)-cm silicon substrates. Furthermore, it was confirmed that our method is suitable for ribbons derived from water-soluble resin blocks. We were also able to stain the specimens by post-embedding immunocytochemistry. Thus, our method is useful in mounting numerus sections on a substrate for array tomography with SEM.

中文翻译：

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带有扫描电子显微镜的阵列层析成像色带收集装置。

“阵列断层扫描”是一种用于在三维视图中观察细胞和组织的精细结构的方法。在这种方法中，将带状的连续超薄切片（色带）安装在固体基板上，并通过扫描电子显微镜（SEM）进行观察。该方法也可以与嵌入后免疫细胞化学结合使用。但是，很难将许多串行色带手动安装在基板上。我们开发了一种廉价的实验室制造设备，可通过拉一条尼龙钓鱼线并在刀船中将基材从水中提起来安装色带。使用此设备，我们成功地在1.25（SD：0.06）×1.25（SD：0.06）-cm的硅基板上安装了几个平均205.6（SD：37.7）系列超薄切片的色带。此外，证实了我们的方法适用于衍生自水溶性树脂块的色带。我们还能够通过嵌入后免疫细胞化学对标本进行染色。因此，我们的方法可用于将数量众多的部分安装在基板上，以利用SEM进行断层扫描。