[Histonet] rat's hind paw skin

[Hobbs, Carl]

If they are perfused, you don't need to worry about stopping them from curling ( they will be fixed/rigid).
Get as large a piece as possible: preferably two pieces.
(The second piece  can then be further fixed for 2hrs before placing into 30% sucrose until the specimen sinks, then snap-freezing.
If you don't have a cryostat, forget this.)
The piece for Pwax: place in a cassette that you know has holes too small for the specimen to fall thro.
I use those plastic mesh inserts: helps to keep tissue flat and "safe". They fit nicely into std plastic cassettes.

If your current processing protocol is good for your specimens, it will be fine for rat footpad skin.
( if you are going to do HIER....you will have to use charged/coated slides, of course.)
You will lose some integrity of the dermis ( collagen will be disrupted), unless you play around with sub-boiling temps.
Thanks and.....good luck.
Carl


Carl Hobbs FIBMS
Histology and Imaging Manager
Wolfson CARD
Guys Campus, London Bridge
Kings College London
London
SE1 1UL

020 7848 6813