Questions? 800-523-5874 | info@emsdiasum.com
An Improved Procedure for Embedding Frozen Sections Directly on Glass Slides for subsequent Ultrastructural Examination. P. McMillan (1), and L. Cosio (2). (1) Pathology Det., Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI; (2) Electron Microscopy Sciences Corp., Hatfield, PA.
It is generally accepted that frozen sections provide the best preservation of biological reactivity when histochemical analyses of whole tissue are performed. Although a variety of techniques have been developed for the embedding of tissues intended for ultra-scructural examination, each is associated with its own peculiar problems and/or disadvantages (for example, see A through C below).
We have developed a new embedding mold which has three wells that are tailored to fit standard 1' x 3' slides. In addition, the wells are 0.013" deep (twice as thick as a standard slide) so that an aliquot of low viscosity embedding resin can be layered over the top surface of the slide and securely held in place until polymerization is complete. Subsequently, the layer of embedding resin (with the enclosed sections) can be removed by placing the slide on a hot plate (90°C), inserting a single edge razor blade between the glass and the resin, and prying upward. Please see the samples of our embedding mold and embedded slides that accompany this exhibit.
(1) Ferayorni LS et al., In Isolation, Characterization, and Use of Hepatocytes, R A Harris and N W Cornell ed., p 271-276, Elsevier Science, 1983.
(2) Isobe Y et al., Acta Histochem Cytochem 10: 161-171, 1977.
(3) McMillan et al., Lab Invest 50: 408-420, 1984.