[Histonet] Horse bones

[louise renton]

Some things to think about....

Rinse the tissue well with running tap water after decal and before
processing - this seems to make  a difference (depends on the size of the
bone - 2hrs to overnight)

EMbed the bones so that the long axis is either at right angles or 45
degrees to the blade so that the edge of the knife doesn't have to cut
through a narrow band of cortical bone along its entire length - this causes
"skipping"(If this is unclear I can send you an attachment with a diagramme)

Once you have faced the blocks put the face down on ice in a -20 deg freezer
overnight (chest type freezer). then remove the one ata time for sectioning.

I have only had limited sucess with soaking the  faced blocks in fabric
softener undiluted.

Hopes this helps

best regards


On 8/6/08, BERGERJL <@t> aol.com <BERGERJL <@t> aol.com> wrote:
>
> We are trying to section pieces of horse femurs, fetlock and
> carpal  joints.
> They have been decalcified with either HCl decal or formic acid  decal.
> Before routine processing the bones appear to be decalcified, but  at
> sectioning
> they are very hard and brittle (even after surface decal) and chip  out of
> the
> paraffin block.
> Any suggestions would be helpful.  A pathologist suggested a soap  soaking
> solution but could not remember the name of the soap.
>
> Help and thank you,
>
> R. Berger, HT
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Louise Renton
Bone Research Unit
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg
South Africa
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