[Histonet] Osmium tetroxide staining for lipids

[Rittman, Barry R]

Shelia
I am sorry that you have received conflicting information on this question. 

What we should all have asked you to start with is what did you finally want to end up with?

We all assumed that you just wanted to stain frozen sections.
If just looking at frozen section then I do agree that Oil red O is as good as osmium tetroxide and much easier and safer to use.
If however you want to carry out the process on a block of tissue and  end up with paraffin sections osmium tetroxide is I believe the method of choice.  Sudan Black does not necessarily stain all lipids in paraffin sections.
Osmium tetroxide is very dangerous, but if used with all recommended precautions in a fume hood will be just fine - if not then  there are a lot of electron microscopists that will be out of business.

We all use a lot of dangerous chemicals and also chemicals that appear to have minimal effects but many of  these not been tested for their accumulative effects over years of exposure. It behoves us to treat most chemicals with respect and with any extra precaution such as necessary with osmium tetroxide. 
Barry

________________________________________
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Sheila Adey [sadey <@t> hotmail.ca]
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2012 9:50 AM
To: billodonnell <@t> catholichealth.net; rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Osmium tetroxide staining for lipids

Thank you so much for this response. :)


> Subject: RE: [Histonet] Osmium tetroxide staining for lipids
> Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:42:34 -0600
> From: billodonnell <@t> catholichealth.net
> To: rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com; sadey <@t> hotmail.ca; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>
> I agree w Rene on this one - do not use this stuff if you do not have to - and in 2012 (or at least in the last 20 years or more) - you do not HAVE to! - Oil Red O is far safer - Bill
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Rene J Buesa
> Sent: Friday, August 24, 2012 9:32 AM
> To: Sheila Adey; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] Osmium tetroxide staining for lipids
>
> Osmium tetroxide is one of the most dangerous substances you can use in the laboratory. Your pathologist probably read some article or found an old photo of fat "stained" with osmium tetroxide and now wants you to do the same thing.
> The problem is that the fat is allowed to react to the fumes of this very nasty substance and this is a very dangerous step.
> Nowadays this is never done. If he wants to "demonstrate" fat, freeze the tissue, prepare a frozen section and us Oil Red to demonstrate fat.
> This is the most current measure.
> On the other hand, as you point out, osmium tetroxide is used in electron microscopy.
> René J.
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Sheila Adey <sadey <@t> hotmail.ca>
> To: "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu" <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
> Sent: Friday, August 24, 2012 8:30 AM
> Subject: [Histonet] Osmium tetroxide staining for lipids
>
>
> Hi Everyone:
>
> One of my pathologists wants me to look into Osmium Tetroxide for staining lipids. From what I can gather on the internet, it looks like it is used in Electron microscopy for fixation and staining.
> Is anyone using this procedure for routine 4 micrometer sections?
>
> Thanks
> :)
> Sheila                         _______________________________________________
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