Hi Tim,
I read about my idea 10 years ago in the Dermatopathology: Practical and
Conceptual Manual. The article was titled "Softening Skin Specimens Prior to
Microtomy in order to achieve better sections". It speaks of tissue samples
becoming hard and brittle from the effects of dehydration during routine
processing. (I used this method to cut almost everything, since it was
faster and provided excellent quality). Most artifacts/pitfalls can be
avoided when the block is treated with a softening agent. Like I said
previously, trim or face the block, immerse in aqueous solution of 0.5%
ammonium hydroxide (I used liquid soap), put block on ice tray, not cold
plate! Wait 30-60 seconds, up to 2 minutes for bone. Time of immersion
should be monitored to avoid over-soaking.
This worked in my lab to enhance the quality of sections for the Pathologist
to interpret. It is a great idea, I hope you have excellent results!
Linda Hylander
IHC Research Associate
CytoLogix Corp.

-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Webster [mailto:twebster@nmcinc.org]
Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2001 5:01 PM
To: 'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
Subject: Tissue Compression - Thanks all


Hi everybody,

Wow! Thanks to everyone that responded to the question re: compression in
routine parrafin sectioning. Having all of you out there is histoland is a
terrific resource, thanks a bunch.

Though I am curious about one thing: Linda Hylander talks about squirting
liquid soap on the cold plate (see later).  I haven't tried it yet, and I
don't know who came up with the idea, but my guess is that they hit the
strawberry daquiri's (sp) pretty hard the night before!  Actually, who cares
where the idea came from if it works!  Thanks to Linda and everybody else.
:-)

Tim Webster
Northwestern Medical Center
Fairfield Street, VT
(802) 524-1070
twebster@nmcinc.org