Hi Sharon,
 We do alot of brains too, but mostly bovine,canine and porcine. We use
10% NBF and suspend them in the container using gauze, like a cradle so
that the brain doesn't sit on the bottom of the container. Be sure the
container is large enough to accomodate the brain and enough formalin
for proper fixation. We usually use at least 10x the volume tissue to
fixative.  We usually let the brain fix 7-10 days before grossing. Hope
this helps.
 Betsy Molinari


> ----------
> From: 	Sharon Allen[SMTP:SAllen@exchange.hsc.mb.ca]
> Sent: 	Friday, March 17, 2000 2:58 PM
> To: 	'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
> Subject: 	processing fetal brains
> 
> Hi,
> Does anyone have a fixative recipe for processing fetal brains, that
> will
> firm up the tissue.  We process approx. 75 to 100 fetal brains a year
> and
> find them very soft making them difficult to gross and cut. Now we are
> using
> the standard Normal Buffered Formalin.
> 
> Thanks
> Sharon Allen
> Neuropathology Section
> Health Science Centre
> Winnipeg, Manitoba
> Canada
>