Probably over processed [ too dry] a common problem with rodent.
Manufacturers recommendations are based on human tissue. Changing reagents
will make things more difficult If you send your schedule and type of
processor that would allow for appropriate comments. Also Gayle Callis
worked very hard on a vet processing manual I believe it is available
through NSH that may be helpful as well.

Cynthia Favara
NIAID/NIH/RML/LPVD
903 South 4th Street
Hamilton, MT 59840
406-363-9317


-----Original Message-----
From: Kathleen Roberts [mailto:kgrobert@rci.rutgers.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 8:32 PM
To: HistoNet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: Tissue processing problems


To all-

We are a small university pathology lab that does mostly rodent and some

fish tissues, and lately they have been coming out of the processor hard

as a rock and very difficult to cut, and we have been trying to figure
out what, if anything, we are doing wrong.  We have tried changing out
the reagents more often, but it doesn't seem to have made a difference.
We doubt that it's the temperature of the paraffin, as our settings are
in agreement with the manufacturer's recommendations, and the
temperature displayed agrees with our thermometer. Could you please send

me your processing protocols for comparison?

If you like, I will send you our protocol as well.  Any and all ideas
and suggestions will be very welcome.

Thanks in advance for your help-
Kathleen Roberts
Principal Lab Technician
Neurotoxicology Laboratories
Molecular Pathology Facility Core
Dept of Pharmacology & Toxicology
Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
Rutgers University
41 B Gordon Rd
Piscataway, NJ 08854
(732) 445-6914
FAX (732) 445-6905