Another trick you can try is
float the block in your waterbath for 20 or so seconds just enough to warm
it a little
Then I put the blocks on cold plates (don't have ice) that have a small
amount of dilute fabric softener.

Tracy E. Bergeron
Histologist
Charles River Laboratories
Wilmington, MA
978-658-6000
x-1229


|---------+--------------------------------------->
|         |           "Dallas Nippert"            |
|         |                |
|         |           Sent by:                    |
|         |           histonet-admin@lists.utsouth|
|         |           western.edu                 |
|         |                                       |
|         |                                       |
|         |           09/30/2003 10:12 AM         |
|         |                                       |
|---------+--------------------------------------->
  >---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
  |                                                                                                               |
  |       To:       "Kelly Salceies" ,                |
  |       cc:                                                                                                     |
  |       Subject:  Re: [Histonet] Paraffin Embedding of Mice Tissue - My protocols                               |
  >---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|




I worked with mouse tissue for 6 years, and it will almost always be dry.
The only thing I did was soak my blocks in my waterbath for about 45
seconds
after facing, and then put them on my ice.  The protocol for processing
was:

70% Etoh 20 min
80% Etoh 20 min
95% Etoh  x2 for 20 min
Absolute  x2 for 20 min
Xylene x2 for 20 min
Paraffin x2 for 30 min
I also used an infiltrating wax in the processor and an embedding wax in
the
embedder. The tissues would soak in the wax for about 15 min before I
started and while I was embedding them.
If they are still dry, try cutting down an alcohol time.

Dallas



----- Original Message -----
From: "Kelly Salceies" 
To: 
Sent: Monday, September 29, 2003 11:29 AM
Subject: [Histonet] Paraffin Embedding of Mice Tissue - My protocols


> Hi --
>
> I guess I should have mentioned the protocols I have already tried -
> sorry...I'm new to this Histonet thing :)
>
> On the Shandon Hypercenter XP I've tried:
>
> 80% ETOH 5 min
> 95% ETOH 15 min 2X
> 100% ETOH 15 min 3X
> Xylene  10 min 2X
> Xylene 5 min 2X
> Paraffin 15 min 2X
>
> 50% ETOH 5 min
> 80% ETOH 5 min
> 95% ETOH 15 min 2X
> 100% ETOH 15 min 3X
> Xylene 10 min 2X
> Xylene 5 min
> Paraffin 15 min 2X
>
> 80% ETOH 5 min
> 95% ETOH 5 min 2X
> 100% ETOH 5 min 2X
> 1:1 ETOH: Cedarwood Oil 5 min
> 1:1 Cedarwood Oil:Methyl Salicylate 5 min
> 100% Methyl Salicylate 5 min
> 1:1 Methyl Salicylate:Xylene 5 min
> Xylene 5min
> Paraffin 15 min 2X
>
> --The last protocol left the tissue soft - so I might just need to use
> longer times...I'm not sure if anybody uses this protocol....
>
> On the Microwave I've tried:
>
> 100% ETOH 10 min  2X
> 1:1 ETOH:Xylene 10 min
> Paraffin 10 min
> -All steps: Max temp 65 degrees - Watt=750
>
> 100% ETOH 5 min
> IPA 5 min
> Paraffin 5 min
> -All steps: Max temp 65 degrees - Watt=750
>
> 100% ETOH 5 min
> 1:1 IPA:Xylene 5 min
> Paraffin 5 min
> -All steps: Max temp 65 degrees - Watt=750
>
>
> There are the protocols I've tried....Please let me know what
> suggestions you have - thank you!!
> Kelly Salceies
> University of New Mexico
> Health Sciences Center
> Dept. of Pathology
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
>


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