Iso-propanol (2-propanol) is the most secure, direct and cheapest alternative to xylene. The only thing I will recommend you is to have the first paraffin bath made of paraffin and 2-propanol at equal amounts in order to reduce the solubility gradient between the last 2-propanol and the first paraffin steps from 9 to 4.5 Mega Pascals. Other than that you will not only eliminate xylene but will reduce costs since 2-propanol is cheaper than ethanol and xylene. Most of the Peloris tissue processors users rely on 2-propanol as both dehydrating and "ante medium" agents. To clean the tissue processor instead of xylene use a 2% aqueousus v/v solution of a laboratory strength dish washer soap, and you are set to have a tissue processing schedule free from xylene.René J.
--- On Sun, 1/4/09, Courtney Cain <courtney.c...@pbrc.edu> wrote: From: Courtney Cain <courtney.c...@pbrc.edu> Subject: [Histonet] Using Isopropyl alcohol in tissue processor To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Date: Sunday, January 4, 2009, 9:55 PM I was wondering if anyone has tried Isopropyl Alcohol (2-propanol) as an alternative to xylene substitutes in their tissue processors. We are attempting this method with the Thermo Excelsior to process mouse embryo, placenta, liver, and mouse and rat organs. Currently our animal tissue has been immersion fixed, but we have encountered extremely brittle and poor morphology of placenta and livers. A few livers and kidneys have pulled away from the wax as well. Here is our basic protocol that has been attempted with and without vacuum. Formaldehyde 2 hr Formaldehyde 2 hr Isopropyl Alcohol 70% 20min Isopropyl Alcohol 90% 20min Isopropyl Alcohol 95% 20min Isopropyl Alcohol100% 20min Isopropyl Alcohol100% 20min Isopropyl Alcohol100% 20min Wax 30min Wax 30min Wax 30min Thanks, Courtney Cain Research Associate Cell Biology & Bioimaging Core Pennington Biomedical Research Center 225-763-2653 cai...@pbrc.edu _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
