[Histonet] LINES IN PARAFFIN SECTIONS

[Tim Wheelock]

Hi Everyone:

I have a serious problem with lines/splits forming in my 5 micron 
sections as they come off the microtome.
I just started using Paraplast Xtra Tissue Embedding Medium.
My infiltrating wax is regular Paraplast.
My disposable blades are Surgipath high profile Teflon coated blades.
The microtome is a Microm HM 355S.
I cut human brain tissue exclusively.

I had been using Surgipath embedding media.
I decided to try the X-tra because I had been having problems with the 
sections being thick and thin on just one side of the section.
Also the wax seeming to be thicker (more opaque) on one side of the block.
The blocks of tissue also were not laying flat in the mold, hence a lot 
of trimming after.
There was some problem with lines even with the Surgipath but it was 
intermittent., and not nearly as bad as the X-tra.

I notice that trimming requires more physical effort with the Paraplast 
X-tra.
And I have had much more of a problem with lines than with the Surgipath 
Embedding Media.
Does it have a higher % of plastic in it.

I cleaned out the reservoir on the embedding center and played with the 
knife angle but to no avail.
I am not sure if the lines have to do with the wax or the blades or both.

Thank you for any advice you can give me.

Tim Wheelock
Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center
McLean Hospital

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