[Histonet] OCT embedding...

[Rebecca Hands]

Dear All,

I am currently using OCT as an embedding medium for fresh frozen tissue. Ideally i need to cut sections from this embedded tissue, laser dissect specific areas of interest and extract high quality RNA from the lasered tissue for subsequent RT-PCR and microarray analysis. Does anyone know if OCT medium degrades RNA?...if so can RNase inhibitors be added to such solutions?

Also does the actual embedding procedure itself comprise RNA integrity?...does anyone have a good protocol for this techniwque and subsequent good quality RNA extraction?

Regards

Rebecca
 

Rebecca Hands (MSc)

PhD Research Fellow
Academic Dept of Surgery
4th Floor Alexandra Wing
The Royal London Hospital
Whitechapel Road
Whitechapel
London
E1 1BB

Ext 2614