[Histonet] Frozen tissue question

[Joel Reichensperger]

We have a new doctor in our lab who swears that all frozen tissue must 
be fixed in formalin with a subsequent sucrose treatment before freezing 
in OCT because not fixing it will cause the structures to be distorted 
and you can't get good antibody attachment. In my previous experience, 
we have done this with tissue that came from an animal that was perfused 
with formalin before the tissue was removed. However, the majority of my 
previous frozen specimens were flash frozen in OCT and fixed after 
sectioning. It is also my understanding that fixation in formalin can 
cause poor antibody detection because of cross-linking caused by the 
formalin. I would like to hear some other opinions on this please. The 
particular specimen we will be working with is skin.

Thanks in advance,
Joel Reichensperger

-- 
Joel Reichensperger
Researcher II
Southern Illinois University
Plastic Surgery Institute
jreichensperger <@t> siumed.edu
217-545-7309 (Office)
217-545-1824 (Fax)