[Histonet] Potassium phosphate or Sodium phosphate?

[John Kiernan]

For rinsing in immunohistochemistry, it will not make any difference.
 
In a fixative such as buffered formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde, it is usual to use sodium phosphates because sodium is the predominant cation in animal extracellular fluids. (Potassium predominates in cytoplasm.) Does it make any difference when the fixative is for light microscopy? Has anyone done a comparison?

John Kiernan
Anatomy, UWO
London, Canada
---
----- Original Message -----
From: Rene J Buesa <rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com>
Date: Friday, September 21, 2007 15:51
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Potassium phosphate or Sodium phosphate?
To: "Ms. Kátia Cristina Catunda" <katia.catunda <@t> cipax.com.br>, histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu

> The buffer action resides in the phosphate molecule acting as 
> anion (negatively charged). Either sodium or potassium act as 
> cations (+ charge, of equal charge) and are similar in reaction, 
> so there are no theoretical advantages of one (K) over the other (Na).
>   René J.
> 
> "Ms. Kátia Cristina Catunda" <katia.catunda <@t> cipax.com.br> wrote:
>   Hi there,
> 
> Does anyone know advantages and disadvantages of using potassium
> phosphate buffer instead of sodium phosphate buffer on the 
> rinsing of IHQ
> slides?
> 
> Let me explain... we used to use sodium phosphate mono and dibasic
> with NaCL, now we are using potassium phosphate mono and sodium 
> phosphatedibasic with NaCL..
> 
> Tks!
> 
> Ms. Kátia Catunda
> Produção
> +55 12 3203-0612 (direto)
> +55 12 3203-0633 (PABX)
> www.cipax.com.br
> katia.catunda <@t> cipax.com.br
> 
> 
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