Just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone who responded to my plea
for help.  As always, the information was much appreciated.

Thanks,
Margaret








Brown Alexander <AlexB@nayrshire.scot.nhs.uk> on 07/22/99 12:19:00 PM

To:   Histonet@Pathology.swmed.edu
cc:    (bcc: Margaret Gondo/GeneMedicine)
Subject:  RE: formalin fixing already frozen muscle




Hi Margaret,
          Providing the tissues have been stored OK, and haven't been
allowed to desiccate, you shouldn't have a problem. Thaw at room
temperature ( providing they aren't 'huge' lumps of tissue ) and fix and
process as normal. We do this regularly for blocks taken for urgent
frozen sections, which we subsequently process to wax. The tissue
architecture and reactivity for most routine 'stains' should be fine.
It's possible certain antigenic sites may be compromised, depending
whether you want to do anything exotic with them, but I'll leave that to
others better versed with that type of work.  ( I'll no doubt now be
shot down in flames   -   Oh well ! )
          Regards,
               Alex Brown
               Crosshouse Hospital
               Kilmarnock, Scotland.
 ----------
From: Margaret Gondo
To: Histonet@Pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: formalin fixing already frozen muscle
Date: Thursday, July 22, 1999 2:02PM
Hi Folks!
Here's the "stupid" question of the day that I hope you all can answer.
I
have some muscle tissue which I had frozen using standard techniques (ie
gum tragacanth, pre-cooled isopentane in liquid nitrogen).  Due to some
questions which have popped up regarding the possibility of infectious
agents being present, I am now being persuaded to formalin fix these
same
tissues.  I shrudder to think what these tissues are going to look like
after I'm through thawing, fixing, processing, ect.  Any suggestions as
to
how I can do this with the minimalist damage?  Any advice as to what I
should expect my tissue to look like after I'm through?



Thanks a bunch!
Margaret