Hello Jose, We routinely surface decalcify the trimmed/faced block for one hour with a commercial product (Rapid Decalcifier or RDC, Cellpath) which contains Hydrochloric acid. Works a treat! Alternatively we have been known to use a splash of laundry fabric softener in the soaking water for IHC sections.
Which species of fish are you sectioning? This can make a huge difference to the timing in either solution. Best regards Debbie Faichney Histopathology Institute of Aquaculture University of Stirling Stirling, FK9 4LA UK .·´¯`·...¸><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...,><((((º> .·´¯`·.......¸><((((º>`·....¸¸...·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...,..><((((º> -----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Jose Luis Palazon Fernandez Sent: 26 September 2012 10:56 To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] softening agent for tissues embedded in paraffin blocks Dear List-members I'm trying to cut some fish muscle samples (along with skin and some bone tissues) embedded in paraffin (fixed in Bouin's fixative and decalcified with EDTA). I find it very difficult to cut these blocks and I would like to know, based in your experience, what tissue softening agent do you recomend to solve this problem. Many thanks in advance greetings, José Luis Dr. José Luis Palazón Fernández Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas Universidad de Oriente Boca del Rio-Isla Margarita-Venezuela Direccion actual: Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucia-CSIC Campus universitario Rio San Pedro, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, España email: jluis.pala...@icman.csic.es; jose.pala...@ne.udo.edu.ve tlf: +34-956832612; fax: +34-956834701; cell: +34-600487100 _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet -- The University of Stirling is ranked in the top 50 in the world in The Times Higher Education 100 Under 50 table, which ranks the world's best 100 universities under 50 years old. The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159. _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
