[Histonet] Cryoembedding media woes, some advice and not a bash session

[Gayle Callis]

I am not bashing anyone's cryomedia, but there are caveats about trying out 
new products without testing them out before the BIG project comes 
along.  No matter which cryoembedding media you desire to use, one should 
ask for a sample or purchase the new product before filling lumens, lungs, 
small intestines to test the media holding quality before embarking on a 
whole, gigantic study.

Reason why:

We tested a new cryoembedding media with great hopes it would work for 
us.  We use cryoembedding media to fill/distend intestinal lumen to 
visualize villi and Peyer's patches.  We found the new media did NOT 
support the villi.  We normally use OCT for this purpose, and found the OCT 
supported these fine tissue structures, allowing perfect sections with high 
quality morphology.  The other new media did not work, sections were 
compressed, villi were chewed up and section quality was poor.  It was 
later found the newer media works great with human tissues and was never 
tested on murine or animal tissue.  I have no doubt the cryomedia was 
excellent for human work, but failed to work for murine special needs 
cryotomy.

Advice it to test whatever is on the market as one or more cryoembedding 
media will show up that is superior for some things we do in the name of 
research.

If you find the embedding media is excellent, better holding power - let us 
know - the info will be appreciated.

At 11:36 AM 12/8/2004, you wrote:
>Hi Dr.Scouten and histonetters,
>Does it mean that Cryo M Bed more "supportive" than OCT. I work with
>murine carotid arteries with atheroscl. plaque. .I fix them for 2 hours
>in 10 % formalin and embed in OCT, but I have to cut with T  -28 C in
>microtome and mount on cool slides , otherwise I am not able to obtain
>good  vessel' lumen and plaque scrolls up or falls down and still I
>receive 30% of distorted slices. Any advices will be appreciate.
>Galina Deyneko
>CV Department
>Novartis Cambridge MA
>617-871-7613
>
>
>
>
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Gayle Callis
MT,HT,HTL(ASCP)
Research Histopathology Supervisor
Veterinary Molecular Biology
Montana State University - Bozeman
PO Box 173610
Bozeman MT 59717-3610
406 994-6367 (lab with voice mail)
406 994-4303 (FAX)