[Histonet] LINES IN PARAFFIN SECTIONS

Rene J Buesa rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com
Wed Jan 17 14:52:30 CST 2007


Tim:
  I would try first changing to another brand of disposable (JUST to see if there is a difference).
  If the problem persists I would return to your usual disposables and then try adding some bees wax (5%) to your paraffin (JUST to see if there is a difference). 
  If the problem remains it could be some dust in the paraffin or in the molds; have you had problems with the air filters in your lab?
  Just some ideas to try to isolate the problem.
  I hope this would help you!
  René J.

Tim Wheelock <twheelock <@t> mclean.harvard.edu> wrote:
  Hi Everyone:

I have a serious problem with lines/splits forming in my 5 micron 
sections as they come off the microtome.
I just started using Paraplast Xtra Tissue Embedding Medium.
My infiltrating wax is regular Paraplast.
My disposable blades are Surgipath high profile Teflon coated blades.
The microtome is a Microm HM 355S.
I cut human brain tissue exclusively.

I had been using Surgipath embedding media.
I decided to try the X-tra because I had been having problems with the 
sections being thick and thin on just one side of the section.
Also the wax seeming to be thicker (more opaque) on one side of the block.
The blocks of tissue also were not laying flat in the mold, hence a lot 
of trimming after.
There was some problem with lines even with the Surgipath but it was 
intermittent., and not nearly as bad as the X-tra.

I notice that trimming requires more physical effort with the Paraplast 
X-tra.
And I have had much more of a problem with lines than with the Surgipath 
Embedding Media.
Does it have a higher % of plastic in it.

I cleaned out the reservoir on the embedding center and played with the 
knife angle but to no avail.
I am not sure if the lines have to do with the wax or the blades or both.

Thank you for any advice you can give me.

Tim Wheelock
Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center
McLean Hospital

I





Any information, including protected health information (PHI), transmitted
in this email is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and or
exempt from disclosure under applicable Federal or State law. Any review,
retransmission, dissemination or other use of or taking of any action in
reliance upon, protected health information (PHI) by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this email in error,
please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.

_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet




 
---------------------------------
Don't get soaked.  Take a quick peak at the forecast 
 with theYahoo! Search weather shortcut.


More information about the Histonet mailing list