[Histonet] Hardening very soft brains

[Marshall Terry Dr, Consultant Histopathologist]

Don't exaggerate Kemlo, we didn't use lead as a fixative. 
However we stained with lead haematoxylin (upside down) for APUD granules as they were then called, in carcinoids.

BTW, for those not familiar with baby brains, they are like blancmange, or even runnier - horrid things to handle.

Dr Terry L Marshall, B.A.(Law), M.B.,Ch.B.,F.R.C.Path
 Consultant Pathologist
 Rotherham General Hospital
 South Yorkshire
 England
        terry.marshall <@t> rothgen.nhs.uk

-----Original Message-----
From: Kemlo Rogerson [mailto:kemlo <@t> tiscali.co.uk]
Sent: 05 December 2003 16:23
To: Marshall Terry Dr, Consultant Histopathologist; 'Geoff McAuliffe';
'Steve Machin UK'
Cc: 'Histonet Histonet Histonet'
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Hardening very soft brains


Yes I remember that with much pain; zinc, lead, you name it we fixed
with it!

If my memory serves me it made the nuclear stain rather dramatic too.

Mr Kemlo Rogerson MSc DMS MIBiol CBiol FIBMS
Tel: 01270 877625
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-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-admin <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-admin <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Marshall
Terry Dr, Consultant Histopathologist
Sent: 05 December 2003 15:34
To: Geoff McAuliffe; Steve Machin UK
Cc: Histonet Histonet Histonet
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Hardening very soft brains

Steve Machin UK wrote:

>Could anyone help us with a problem we have in processing very soft
>fetal brains?
>
>We currently fix in 20% formalin in buffer but the brains are so soft
>after processing they stick to the wrapping paper.
>
>Any ideas on how we can harden them after fixation?

I find zinc fixative totally brilliant for brain tissue, in  both the
hardening and morphologic aspects.
You may not be able to keep the tissue on the slide, but heck, you can't
have everything:-)

Dr Terry L Marshall, B.A.(Law), M.B.,Ch.B.,F.R.C.Path
 Consultant Pathologist
 Rotherham General Hospital
 South Yorkshire
 England
        terry.marshall <@t> rothgen.nhs.uk

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