On Tue, 3 Nov 1998, John C. Dennis wrote:

> molds.  My big problem is that the vibrotome sections (I've been using 100
> um sections) shatter when they're sectioned.  I presume that the tissue,
> thin as it is, is in xylene too long before infiltration.  I use a
> processor and I suspect that pumping the xylene in and out of the retort

  Sectioning is often better after a clearing agent more
  viscous than xylene. Cedarwood oil is traditional; my
  favourite is terpineol. You need longer infiltration
  times, processing manually of course. Probably some of
  the oil remains in the wax-infiltrated tissue. For good
  discussion, see M. Gabe "Histological Techniques" (Paris:
  Masson, 1976).

 John A. Kiernan,
 Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology,
 The University of Western Ontario,
 LONDON,  Canada  N6A 5C1