[Histonet] Paraffin sections mouse brain

[Michael J. Lyon, Ph.D.]

Hi everyone:

While I have sectioned a lot of different stuff, I have not done mouse brain
before and I am having considerable difficulty.  The brains are fixed and
were embedded by our pathology department on their automated system.  When
cutting, the paraffin cuts nicely but the brain tissue shreds as if the
infiltration was insufficient.  I have re-embedded one, just melted and new
paraffin then vacuum oven for 2 hours.  The results were the same.  I don't
know if it would help to re-embed going back to EtOH.  Also, from my distant
past I recall that when we were paraffin sectioning whole human larynges,
that the face of the block was soaked by placing a wet gauze pad on it.  I
know this help but don't remember what the solution was on the pad.  Any
help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks 

 

Michael J. Lyon, PhD

Otolaryngology Research Labs

SUNY Upstate Medical University

750 East Adams Street

Syracuse, NY 13210

 

Voice: 315-464-7253

Fax:     315-464-5572