I have a few investigators here who orient very small and delicate baby 
mouse ileums on a metricel membrane they get from VWR. The ileums stick to 
the membrane and can be processed with the membrane attached. When 
embedding this makes the job easier because there is a piece of membrane to 
hang on to with the forceps. Since the membranes cut well we trim them down 
but just leave them attached. I've also tried this with tubular structures 
- like segments of very tiny mouse aortas and it works well there too.
Back to the discussion on whether the cassettes just off the processor are 
plunked into molten paraffin and the embedding is done from there - I'm a 
firm believer in this method and have been doing this since I was taught 
how to embed way back in the dark ages.
Andi Grantham
.....................................................................
: Andrea Grantham, HT(ASCP)     Dept. of Cell Biology & Anatomy     :
: Sr. Research Specialist       University of Arizona               :
: (office:  AHSC 4212)          P.O. Box 245044                     :
: (voice:  520-626-4415)        Tucson, AZ  85724-5044    USA       :
: (FAX:  520-626-2097)          (email:  algranth@u.arizona.edu)       :
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