[Histonet] Paraffin specimen clamp

[Jo Dee Fish]

Sorry, I don't remember who sent the original email.
This can work.  You need to let the old paraffin sit in the new, hot
paraffin for just a few minutes (3 or 4) before beginning the cooling down.
The old paraffin will melt along the outside of the block and it helps it to
"blend" with the new paraffin.  I do this all of the time to embed small
mouse embryos, e.g. 9.5dpc, so that I can maintain orientation without
preembedding in agar.  Works great for me!
Good luck,
Jo Dee
 


Jo Dee Fish
Research Technologist III
Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease

Telephone: (415) 734-2567
Fax: (415) 355-0824
E-mail: jfish <@t> gladstone.ucsf.edu

Mailing address:  
The J. David Gladstone Institutes
1650 Owens Street
San Francisco, CA 94158 


-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of
AGrobe2555 <@t> aol.com
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 1:47 PM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Paraffin specimen clamp 

"In this instance, I would embed the entire block as you would a piece of
tissue, without melting the existing paraffin, and attach a cassette."
 
David,
I have tried this in the past with very little success.  The new, hot
paraffin does not adhere to the old, cold paraffin enough to keep the blocks
affixed to the cassette for any length of time when subjected to the
shearing pressure of the blade while sectioning.  I have had to melt, and
re-embed the samples in order to section the samples.  The most
straight-forward way would be to find the appropriate clamp (hopefully at an
inexpensive price). 
 
Just curious, why can't you melt and re-embed?
 
Best of luck,
Albert   

Albert C.  Grobe, PhD
International Heart Institute of Montana Foundation Tissue  Engineering Lab,
Saint Patrick  Hospital





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