精子研究的有力工具——软X射线显微术

A Powerful Tool for Study of Sperm-Soft X-ray Microscopy

软X射线显微术是利用软X射线作为光源的显微成像技术 ,填补了光学和电子显微学之间的空白。与可见光显微镜相比 ,软X射线显微镜具有更高的成像分辨率 ;与电子显微镜相比 ,它具有的优势是能对较厚 (生物样品厚度可达 10 μm)、含水的自然状态下的样品直接成像 ,而无须对样品进行脱水、超薄切片和染色等处理。另外 ,软X射线显微术还可以用于生物样品内的元素分布和蛋白质、DNA等生物大分子的分析研究。本文简要介绍了软X射线显微术在生物学研究中的优势 ;

Soft X ray microscopy is a microimaging technique using soft X ray as illuminative source. It fills the gap between optical and electron microscopy. Soft X ray microscopes have better resolution than visible microscopes. In comparison with electron microscopes, it can examine thick (up to 10 micrometers for biological samples) and wet specimens in their natural states without being dehydrated, sectioned and stained. In addition, soft X ray microscopy can map elements and analyze the biological macromolecules such as protein and DNA in the examined samples. In this paper, the advantages of soft X ray microscopy for biology are briefly described. The applications of soft X ray microscopy to the analysis of mammal and human sperm are illustrated.