LIGHT DIFFRACTION BY SINGLE STRIATED MUSCLE FIBERSf

In two preceding reports (Meyer-Arendt, 1957a, b), the scattering of light has been discussed that originates from single tissue cells or cell componenets. Two sets of information can be obtained by this microscattering technic: first, infor-mation about the turbidity of the sample shown by a more diffuse scattering; secondly, information about any regularity, if present at all, in the arrangement of the underlying structures. For these studies two narrow and almost parallel light beams were projected into the test specimen. One of them was directed onto the cell; the other served as a reference. The scattered light has been observed through an ordinary, high power microscope, at a plane kept in a con-stant distance of 106 n above the specimen. The objective of the investigations presented here is to study light diffraction patterns effected by striated muscle fibers. In particular, such patterns were attempted to obtain from minute portions within one single muscle fiber. Similar measurements have been done by Buchthal and Knappeis (1940), while earlie