I did a project many years ago and cut HUNDREDS of mouse brains:

pay special attention to:

thickness of section - thicker (5micron) sections hold together better than
thinner ones
keep the water cool
use adhesive slides - very thin egg-albumen works well and is not expensive
store cut sections at 37celcius overnight before staining
use Histosec (Merck) or Tissue Tek111 (Sakura) wax
NEVER float out onto alcohol before cool waterbath

Be very, very patient!
Good luck
Annie in Africa

Anne S. van Binsbergen
S.A.I.M.R./Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital
Johannesburg
South Africa

+2711 4898717 (fax)
+2711 4898711