[Histonet] Re: freezing skeletal muscle

[Robert Richmond]

Galina Deyneko asks about freezing skeletal muscle.

I'm not sure that temperature control of the isopentane is too
important - it should be very slightly viscous. But do get rid of
explosive isopentane and get a non-flammable substitute - see my
previous posts on this topic.

The technique for freezing skeletal muscle is easier demonstrated than
described. Hold a small piece (maybe 5 x 10 mm) in tweezers, and coat
it with talc powder so that it appears white on the surface. Then dip
the specimen in and out of the isopentane - roughly two dips per
second - until it is frozen solid. That will eliminate the ice crystal
artifact. But you have to try it a few times before it will quite work
for you. Set aside one dead rat and one afternoon.

Bob Richmond
Samurai Pathologist
Knoxville TN