[Histonet] How to process tissues submitted in acrylamide

[John Kiernan]

If it's a cross-linked polyacrylamide gel (as used, for example, for electrophoresis), the block will suddenly shrink to a tiny stone-like object when the water content reaches a critical low level (15-20% water, 80-85% alcohol). I may have the % wrong; remembering an experiment in the early 1980s. You will need to do frozen sections.  For technical details see Hausen,P & Dreyer,C  (1981) Stain Technol. 56: 287-293.  They didn't cryoprotect. Evidently its important not to let the sections dry out on the slides (or coverslips) before staining.
 
John Kiernan
Anatomy, UWO
London, Canada
= = = 
On 23/01/14, Catherine Simonson <catherinesimonson <@t> gmail.com> wrote: 
>  Hello Helpful Histonetters,
> 
> I have some samples that were fixed in PFA, placed in acrylamide gel and
> then treated with iodine for microCT at another facility.  The investigator
> now wants to follow up and get H&E's on these samples.  I know how to deal
> with the iodine, but my question is this:  what is the best procedure to
> process these samples to slide?  Do I run on a long processing schedule on
> the processor, or do I do sucrose cryoprotection and get frozen.
> Morphometry seems to be an important factor.
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> 
> Catherine Simonson, B.S., HT(ASCP)
> _______________________________________________
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
> 
>