Re: Don't us Prop Oxide!!!!

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From:tflore@lsumc.edu (Flores, Teresa) (by way of histonet)
To:histonet <histonet@magicnet.net>
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Hildy, is there a reference for your bases on "don't use spurr" statement?
Teresa

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>Hi,
>
>It is not necessary to use propylene oxide as an intermediate agent, even
>if the embedding media is viscous (contains Araldite 502).  One can use
>acetone with great success.  It is important, however, to really "rinse
>out" all the acetone with resin.  Remnants of acetone or alcohol, unlike
>propylene oxide, do not become part of the polymerized system, and will
>interfere with polymerization.
>We have not used propylene oxide in 7 years.  There was one exception:
>Someone brought me very valuable blocks which had been badly embedded.  I
>managed to pull out the bad embedment with PO over a three day period and
>reembed, section, treat it with radioactive label, etc.  The micrographs
>were
>recently published.  Otherwise we have not used PO.
>If you decide your epoxide embedding medium is too viscous, take advantage
>of the mechanical property of epoxides to become fluid between 37degC and
>45deg.  Put the vials on a rotator, and add a 60Watt light bulb to the
>setup.  Position the lamp so that the mixture does not exceed 45 degrees.
>Wonderfully successfull for difficult or large specimen.
>Protect yourself!  Get rid of Spurr's!  Carcinogens are cumulative.
>Hildy




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