Hi everyone.. Today a post doc asked me a question regarding 30% sucrose and
the chemistry behind
WHY it is such a good cryoprotectant.  Can anyone explain this for us? Someone
had told him that it works
because the sucrose replaces the water in the tissue, thus preventing ice
crystal artifact.  He wants to know
why it works since sucrose is also a water based solution. With sucrose, are
ice crystals still formed, just smaller?
Also, what role does the temperature of the Histobath play?  Are most
Histobaths kept around -150?
Thanks so much for your help!

Tami A. Lee
UNC Neuroscience Center
Neuropathology Core Laboratory
CB #7250
Chapel Hill, NC 27599