FW: Placenta Update
Re: Placenta Update
Another thing your researcher can try is cutting a
"cube" of placenta and placing it in formalin for half an hour before slicing
it. It firms up the tissue and makes it easier to cut more thinly.
The cube is about 2 cm on a side. And does the formalin-ethanol mix work
for them? Then also suggest
putting smaller pieces in a cassette; jsut cut the sections in half and use two
cassettes. And you can suggest a "study"--put identical pieces in
cassettes for variable lengths of time, see the results. Good
luck.
Jim
Small MD (and part time placenta maven)
Ask your researcher to bring
you a (written) copy of the journal article with the methodology she is
attempting to follow, then you will be able to point out all the discrepancies
between it and the very clear protocol you would normally use.
I agree with what Thomas Jasper said. If the researcher can explain to you
what they intend to do with the tissue, you may be able to compromise, or shock
horror!, make helpful suggestions. Over-fixing may possibly destroy some things
(Ag's, enzymes) BUT under-fixing will most certainly result in poor morphology
and crap sections, especially for placenta. Maybe she needs to do some more
research about alternative methods that will suit this tissue type and optimal
fixation.
Good Luck, Cath
Hi everyone,
Thank you all for responding to my
dilemma.
Here's an update on my placental
problems. Not only does the researcher have problems cutting the tissue
smaller than 3 mm thick - she also wants it in formalin a minimum amount of
time before processing (2 to 3 hours). I've explained that
the results she'll achieve under these conditions will be poor - but she
insists. Any other suggestions I may give to her?
Louri
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