If you have time, you could try clearing in cedarwood oil instead of xylene,
It leaves the tissue much softer and less brittle, but it does take days,
even weeks, and it's quite expensive. You might get some improvement by
using chloroform to clear instead. Another possibility would be to soak the
bone in fabric softener (any brand) for a day or two after decalcifying it
and before dehydrating it; I've never done this, but I've heard it works.

-- 
Lesley Weston


> From: "DiCarlo, Margaret" 
> Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 10:58:00 -0500
> To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject: [Histonet] bone softening
> 
> Histonetters,
> 
> 
> 
> A while ago I remember someone mentioning a method to soften bone after
> it's been decaled but prior to processing.  Can anyone tell me the
> procedure and does it have any affect on the H&E staining?  Lately, my 5
> x 7" size bones have been giving me great difficulty when sectioning
> since they have been very dense and hard.   I process with xylene.
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks for your help.
> 
> 
> 
> Peggy DiCarlo HT (ASCP)
> 
> Orthopedics Bone Lab
> 
> Buffalo General Hospital
> 
> 100 High St.
> 
> Buffalo, NY  14203
> 
> 716-859-1293
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Kaleida Health's economic impact on Western NY exceeds $2.2 BILLION annually.
> 
> Check us out at: www.WesternNYshospitalofchoice.org
> 
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