[Histonet] Shiny side of a paraffin section

[Smith, Allen]

My mentor, Nick Roman, told me that sections adhere to the slide better if they go on shiny side down.  Brenda Disbrey's HISTOLOGICAL LABORATORY METHODS says that laying the sections on the water bath or water droplet shiny side down makes it easier to remove creases.  Benno Romeiss' MIKROSKOPISCHE TECHNIK and Manfred Gabe's TECHNIQUES HISTOLOGIQUES say that section should be mounted shiny side down without giving a reason. Most other authors do not even mention this matter.

Allen A. Smith
Professor of Anatomy
Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine
Miami Shores, Florida    

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Lucie Guernsey
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 6:56 PM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Shiny side of a paraffin section

As all of us who cut paraffin know, the underside of each section as it
comes off the blade is shiny. I've always accepted it as a fact that the
shiny side always goes down on the water bath, but I've begun to wonder
why. Is there a specific reason why we're all taught to put the shiny side
down? What would the difference be between a 'properly' collected section
and a rebelliously collected shiny-side up section? Does it even matter?

Thanks!
Lucie

Lucie Guernsey
UC San Diego
lguernsey <@t> ucsd.edu
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