Observation of actin filaments in Leydig cells with a contact-type soft X-ray microscope with laser plasma X-ray source

Kado, Masataka; Ishino, Masahiko; Tamotsu, Satoshi*; Yasuda, Keiko*; Kishimoto, Maki; Nishikino, Masaharu; Kinjo, Yasuhito*; Shinohara, Kunio*

Actin filaments in Leydig cells from mouse testes have been observed with a contact-type soft X-ray microscope with laser plasma X-ray source. The Leydig cells were fixed with paraformaldehyde, stained with Phalloidin, and observed with a confocal laser microscope prior to the observation with X-ray microscope. Obtained images by both of the confocal laser microscopy and the X-ray microscopy were directly compared and revealed that not only position of actin filaments but also the shapes can be identified each other. The actin filaments in the X-ray images were clearly recognized and their structures were obtained in more detail compared to those in the confocal laser microscope images.