Hello. I haven't done much in the way of nails myself, but I do have 
     somewhere a recipe for "nail softening solution" that I think has 
     Tween in it. I could probably dig it up for you if no one else in 
     Histoland has it handy.
     
     As for adhesion, these are the most important things that we've 
     discovered:
     1. Allow the tissue to relax on the water bath as much as possible so 
     that it will lie flat as possible, maximizing contact. Things like 
     keratin (nails) and scabs do want to wrinkle an awful lot, and come 
     unwrinkled more slowly than other tissues. All those little gaps allow 
     spaces for water and stains to get under the tissue and lift it off.
     2. Bake the slides thoroughly.
     3. For the worst problems, we've had good luck using slides subbed 
     with 5% gelatin or 5% Polyscientific Histoslide Adhesive in water. 
     Then after sectioning and picking up the samples, put the slides in a 
     sealed container like a small plastic slide box containing a gauze pad 
     moistened with a few ml of glutaraldehyde. Parafilm it well and put it 
     in a 60 C oven for an hour or so. The vapors apparently crosslink the 
     tissue to the slide coating. Don't open the box outside a hood!
     
     Jeffrey Crews, HTL (ASCP)
     Organogenesis, Inc.


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: CUTTING NAILS 
Author:  <Eileen_Dusek@cdh.org> at internet
Date:    06/07/2000 9:16 AM


HI EVERYONE,
PLEASE HELP ME ONE MORE TIME,
DOES ANYONE HAVE A SUGGESTIONS(S) REGARDING ADHERING NAILS TO A SLIDE.  WE 
SOFTEN THE NAIL WITH LOTION AND THEN THOUROUGHLY RINSE THE LOTION OFF. THE 
SECTIONS CUT GREAT BUT FALL OFF ONCE WE STAIN. THEY ARE PLACED ON SILANE 
SLIDE .  ANY IDEAS?
     
THANKS
EILEEN
CENTRAL DUPAGE HOSPITAL