[Histonet] Xray contrast

[Gayle Callis]

Dear Charles,

Where were you and your micro CT scanner when I was doing all this stuff!!! 
We decalcified most murine bones with formic acid, rinsed with water before 
radiographic (FAXITRON) checks.  We still had to cut back on kvp and time 
with our non digital, old but beloved FAXITRON.    The XOMAT film was high 
contrast if I remember correctly.  EDTA + 100% alcohol will also form 
preciptates in the bone that you may not want to have for any future 
sectioning either.

Also, Coral did not indicate that her FAXITRON was a digital machine?

 Gayle M. Callis
HT/HTL/MT(ASCP)
Bozeman MT 59715


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Keller, Charles" <kellerc2 <@t> uthscsa.edu>
To: "Dickey, Coral" <cad <@t> Stowers-Institute.org>; 
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Cc: "Prajapati, Suresh" <Prajapati <@t> uthscsa.edu>
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 1:45 PM
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Xray contrast


Dear Coral,

you may be decalcifying the specimen so that it will be hard to take a
good picture.  Changing the buffer to PBS will improve the contrast
above background.  If it isn't an issue with sectioning, you can
transition it to 100% ethanol for much better contrast.  Averaging
several digital exposures will also increase signal:noise.

I can also do a nice overnight scan with our microCT
(http://ccri.uthscsa.edu/MicroCT.html) at no charge if you wish.

Sincerely,
Charles


Charles Keller, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Cellular & Structural Biology
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Director, Small Animal Imaging Facility
Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute
The University of Texas Health Science Center
8403 Floyd Curl Drive, Mail Code 7784
San Antonio, TX 78229-3900
210-562-9062 [office]
210-562-9014 [fax]
http://gccri.uthscsa.edu or
www.sarcomalab.org
kellerc2 <@t> uthscsa.edu

Postdoctoral Opportunities and
Undergraduate & Summer Internships:
http://ccri.uthscsa.edu/keller

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-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Dickey,
Coral
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 2:25 PM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Xray contrast


Hello in Histoland,

I am trying to track the decalcification of some 42 day old mouse humeri
and femurs by xray. They have been in 10% EDTA for 36hrs and I just took
a film on KODAK BioMax MS film on a Faxitron xray machine. The bones
were exposed for 30 sec at 30kvp. I would like to increase the contrast
on the picture. Does anyone know how to do this.

Thanks in advance.

Coral Dickey
Histology Specialist I

Stowers Institute for Medical Research
1000 E. 50th Street
Kansas City,  Missouri  64110
Phone:  816-926-4305
e-mail:  cad <@t> stowers-institute.org