Gel samples(about 1 cm3 pieces) were fixed at room temperature in 25 g/kg glutaraldehyde for 4 h at 4 °C and then postfixed in 10 g/kg osmic tetroxide for 1 h. Gel samples were rinsed in 0.1 mol sodium phosphate buffer three times after each step. The samples were dehydrated with an ethanol series(500. 700,800. 950. and 1000 mll L: 2 15 min) and pure acetone(2 x 30 min).The samples were then x submerged in EPON812:acetone(1:1) for 30 min and EPON812 for 1 h. After that, the samples were polymerized for 48 h at 60 °C and followed by 24 h at 30 C.Thin sections were prepared on a diamond knife in a LKB Ultra microtome(BROMMA, Sweden) and deposited on a collodion-coated Formvargrids. Ultrathin sections were stained in uranyl acetate and lead citrate and viewed using a transmission electron microscopy(Hitachi H-600. Hitachi Corp. Japan)