ABSTRACT
Electron microscopy (EM) and polarization microscopy (PM) techniques reveal ultra-structural patterns in different ways. While EM directly visualizes the structures, PM is an indirect method, i.e., the ultrastructure can be inferred from the optical phenomena observed or measured in the microscope. In addition to this, the structures are differently altered during the different preparative methods of the specimens used in these two techniques, i.e., different artifacts are formed, observed, and compared. Furthermore, the minute section thickness and high magnification used in the transmission EM to image details of the ECM limits the analysis to a very restricted field. In contrast to these conditions, the PM permits analysis of much larger area of the tissue. EM visualizes bits and pieces of the trees in a forest, PM, on the other hand, provides high resolution of the whole forest. 1
