Dear Bryan,
I agree with your troubleshooting of this problem.  I had a similar problem
with cutting 50 micron serial sections in paraffin.  I used a water bath
that almost melted the surrounding paraffin within several seconds of
contact with the water.  I found I could watch the section until it was
completely flat and then mount it on the slide.  Sarah

Sarah Christo, HT (ASCP)
Texas A&M University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Dept. of Vet. Anatomy & Public Health
Histology Laboratory
College Station, TX  77868-4458
schristo@cvm.tamu.edu
phone (409) 845-3177
fax (409) 847-8981

>>> Hewlett Bryan <HEWLETT@HHSC.CA> 01/20 7:18 AM >>>
Sandi,

I believe the wrinkling is due to compression of the tissue, by the paraffin
wax, on solidification. On subsequent flotation, there is differential
expansion, the tissue expanding more than the wax. Large blocks,
particularly those fixed in formaldehyde and those with a wide margin of
wax, are rather susceptible to this.
Make sure the temperature of the water bath is high enough, 5-10C below the
MP of your wax, leave the sections floating longer and this may help.

If not, try the following;
Place the large wax section on black blotting paper. Using a sharp blade,
carefully cut through the surrounding wax (not the tissue!), in radial
fashion, at 2-3 locations on each side of the section. Proceed with floating
on water. The wax will separate and allow expansion of the tissue.

Hope this helps.

Bryan

> ----------
> From: 	Snobird75@aol.com[SMTP:Snobird75@aol.com]
> Sent: 	January 19, 2000 5:56 PM
> To: 	Histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject: 	Problems w/cutting monkey brains
>
> I am having trouble with wrinkles.
> I am cutting monkey brains and using the large block cassetts , also the
> larger micro poly + slides. When placeing the section on the water bath
> the
> wrinkles won't leave the outer edges of the tissue. I even tried putting a
>
> drop of 95% alc in the waterbath, this did help a little but not enough.
> Also
> tried to cut at different thickness. The pathologist wants no wrinkles
> because she want to take pictures of theses slides.
> Are there any ideas on what to try? Also what setting would you set the
> waterbath at
> ours is set at 38 degrees.
> Thank you
> Sandi
> Dept Government Research
> Maryland
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