For ultrastructure examination, small specimens were immediately collected from breast muscle after dissection, tissues were cut into small pieces (about 1 mm
3) and fixed for 3 h in
3% glutaraldehyde solution (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) in 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7). Following, specimens were washed in two consecutive changes in buffer and then moved to a 1% osmium tetroxide solution (Electron Microscope Science, Sigma-Aldrich) for 1 h in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.9). After that, tissue samples were washed for 5 min in 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer, dehydrated in ascending grade of ethyl alcohol, and impregnated with Epon embedding resin. Then, samples were embedded and blocked at 60 °C for 48 h. Semi-thin sections were cut from the prepared blocks and stained with 1% basic Toluidine blue for the light microscopy. Following, ultrathin sections (50–80 nm) were prepared from the selected regions and moved onto copper grids (200 meshes). Finally, uranyl acetate dihydrate (2%) and lead citrate were used for sections contrasts. Tissues were examined and captured blindly by experienced pathologist (AFK) using
JEM-1220 TEM (JEOL, Tokyo, Japan), with a
Morada 11 megapixel camera (Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions GmbH, Münster, Germany).
Dosoky W.M., Fouda M.M., Alwan A.B., Abdelsalam N.R., Taha A.E., Ghareeb R.Y., El-Aassar M.R, & Khafaga A.F. (2021). Dietary supplementation of silver-silica nanoparticles promotes histological, immunological, ultrastructural, and performance parameters of broiler chickens. Scientific Reports, 11, 4166.