[Histonet] friable or crumbly O.C.T.

[Della Speranza, Vinnie]

I'm guessing that liquid nitrogen or dry ice temperature is too cold for sectioning OCT.
OCT cuts well down to about -25 degrees C. 
Liquid Nitrogen is about -160 degrees C. I believe dry ice is in the same temp range at LN2

You will want to give the OCT blocks the opportunity to "warm up" to cryostat temperature before attempting to section them. Leave your frozen blocks in the cryostat for 30-60 minutes before sectioning to allow them to come to optimum temperature

Vinnie Della Speranza
Manager for Anatomic Pathology Services
Medical University of South Carolina
165 Ashley Avenue  Suite 309
Charleston, South Carolina 29425
Tel: (843) 792-6353
Fax: (843) 792-8974
 

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Bruce W Brodersen
Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 2:26 PM
To: histonet <@t> pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: [Histonet] friable or crumbly O.C.T.



Anyone have an explanation as to why OCT would be friable or crumbly for
sectioning?  Here's how it was used.
Thanks.

"We held the plastic 'tray' with the tissue in the compound just over the
liquid nitro for 30sec-1min, until it was opaque and white (frozen) and
then dipped the tray into the liquid nitro for 20-30sec., placed in small
bags and then into a cooler with dry ice until shipping."


Bruce W. Brodersen, DVM, PhD
University of Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center
1900 N. 42nd Street
Lincoln, NE  68583-0907

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