Do you know what fixative was used on the thymus? If it was formalin fixed,
the treatment you described should allow them to section well. However, I
have found that tissues fixed in Histofix or similar fixatives sometimes
have to be soaked overnight to 24 hours in order to get good sections, and
even then I may get only 6 to 10 good sections before getting back into dry
tissue. Make sure you know the fixative before trying this however, as
soaking overnight could damage a formalin-fixed block.

> ----------
> From: 	histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu on behalf of Till,
> Renee
> Sent: 	Friday, July 14, 2006 6:43 AM
> To: 	histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: 	[Histonet] sectioning thymus
> 
> I have some thymus paraffin blocks that I am trying to section to do H&E
> on. I've never worked with this tissue before. What does it take to get
> decent sections? Most of the tissues I have cut worked fine by just
> soaking in ice with water. Sometimes I've even floated them on the water
> bath and that has helped. Neither of these seem to be enough to get
> these thymus blocks soft enough to get decent sections. I am already
> letting them soak for a couple hours. Should I go longer? Back when I
> was in histo school we used to soak the blocks in fabric softener, but
> so far even that hasn't worked. All my sections have chunks tore out
> like when the tissue is too dry, and now I am getting what looks like
> cracking. I have never had this much problems just cutting tissue. 
> 
>  
> 
> Renee' Till, HT
> 
> Research Assistant
> 
> Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center
> 
> 1212 Marshall St./N2021
> 
> Little Rock, AR 72002
> 
> Office (501)364-2785
> 
> Fax (501)364-3161
> 
>  
> 
> 
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