>Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 17:46:26 -0500
>From: Harold Obiakor <HOBIAKOR@niaid.nih.gov>
>Subject: Frozen Tissue
>To: "'HistoNet Server'" <HistoNet@pathology.swmed.edu>
>MIME-version: 1.0
>
>Hi,
>Does anyone Know the best method to freeze tissue without having holes or
>cracks in them? Currently we freeze our tissues with OCT (embedding medium
>for frozen tissue) in Isopentane/Liquid nitrogen or dry ice and occasionally
>we have gaping holes or cracks in the tissue after sectioning. We are
>convinced that these holes are not due to the process of sectioning, but due
>to the freezing method. We have also noticed that freezing tissues with OCT
>in Isopentane on dry ice was a little bit better than in Isopentane placed
>in liquid nitrogen.
>
>								Harold.
>								NIAID, NIH.
>

Harold,
	Have seen this effect after tissue were brought from a liquid
nitrogen fridge and held at room termperature before going into the
cryostat. Might be a similar temperature shock.
Ian.

Dr. Ian Montgomery,
West Medical Building,
University of Glasgow,
Glasgow,
G12 8QQ,
Scotland.
Tel: 0141 339 8855 Extn. 6602.
Fax: 0141 330 4100.
e-mail: ian.montgomery@bio.gla.ac.uk