Date: Mon, 03 Dec 2001 19:27:20 -0400
From: nina leek <nleek@mediaone.net>
X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.04C-MOENE (Macintosh; U; PPC)
To: "Dr. Ian Montgomery" <ian.montgomery@bio.gla.ac.uk>,
   histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: Re: Fixation buffer.

Ian:
Sorensen buffers are physiological strength aren't they, and so somewhat hypotonic to sea-water?  There are a number of recipes for artificial sea waters in older biochemistry books, and I would have thought any of them would work as a base for making up the fixative.  I may be able to dig some out if you need me to.  In this weather, it would be more comfortable than going down to the Clyde to dip a bucket in.
Good luck,

Adrian Leek.
 

Dr. Ian Montgomery wrote:

        Preparing fish larvae (sea) for EM, any suggestions for a suitable buffering system given that the levels of salt in sea fish are  ~3 times that of mammals. Do I simply make up the fixatives using sea water? Sorenson buffered fixatives have a high osmolarity that might be another buffer. Time, unfortunately, is short so I can't run a series of trials although I would prefer that.
        Back to mammals, lymphocytes and macrophage in mice, any suggestions. I was going to look for esterases as a marker for macrophage but I'm sure there is something better.
Ian.

Dr. Ian Montgomery,
Microscopy Service Unit,
Graham Kerr Building,
Institute of Biological & Life Sciences,
University of Glasgow,
Glasgow,
G12 8QQ.
Tel: 0141 332 8855 Extn.6644.
e-mail: ian.montgomery@bio.gla.ac.uk