Hi The long ribbons are for R&D and QA purposes. Often we test under multiple conditions 1-4 with multiple antibodies to the same tissue or multiple tissue to optimize reagents. It quickly adds up.
Rachel On Mon, Apr 20, 2015 at 3:28 PM, Joelle Weaver <joellewea...@hotmail.com> wrote: > Why are you cutting such a long ribbon? You usually only a need a series > of 3-4 sections even for ribbon cutting. Might be easier to control if you > don't try to move such a long ribbon to the waterbath. Drag the shorter > ribbon towards you on the waterbath. Make sure the water is not too cool. > Face the block to full face but superficial, chill on ice for some > moisture, take sections while the block is still very cold. Use a slow, > steady, smooth stroke if doing manual cutting. Make sure your embedding > works well for the way you orient the block in the holder. Angles work well > for many tissues that are prone to wrinkling. Its mostly just practice > though. The more you cut, the easier it becomes and usually the better you > get at it. > > > Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC > > > > > > > Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:06:17 +0200 > > From: j.benavi...@eae.csic.es > > To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu > > Subject: Re: FW: [Histonet] prevent wrinkles when cutting > > > > Hi there, > > > > I´m curious about the soaking thing. We have never done it in our lab. > > Which is the purpose to do it? > > > > Than, after facing the blocks, we chill them in a cold plate so, if > > wanting to do the soaking , when should we? I guess before placing them > > on the cold plate, but that may cause a bit of ice formation? > > > > Thanks a lot for your help > > > > Julio > > > > > > On 20/04/2015 18:40, Grantham, Andrea L - (algranth) wrote: > > > Rachel, > > > First off, are you chilling and soaking the blocks after you face them? > > > Do that and see if there is a difference. > > > Don't try to get many sections to your ribbons. Shoot for a smaller > ribbon (5-6) sections that are good. Cut slowly but consistently. > > > What microtome are you using? Are you using disposable blades and are > they sharp? Don't expect them to cut well if you use the same blade to face > the blocks. If you aren't using disposables, get some! They will make your > life easier. > > > You might try to find a histotech at a local hospital lab who might be > able to give you a hands-on lesson. > > > Don't despair! We all sat down at our microtomes those first times and > suffered trying to get perfect sections. It takes practice. You might make > some blank blocks or blocks with tissue you can spare to practice your > cutting techniques. I used to do this with my students and it really helped > them. > > > Good luck! > > > > > > Andi G. > > > ________________________________________ > > > From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [ > histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] on behalf of Rachel M Gonzalez > [rac...@gbi-inc.com] > > > Sent: Monday, April 20, 2015 9:07 AM > > > To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu > > > Subject: [Histonet] prevent wrinkles when cutting > > > > > > Hi > > > > > > Thursday was the first time I ever used a microtome.... I move to a lab > > > that does not have someone dedicated to cutting. I already miss her. > > > > > > I have no problems getting ribbons of 10-30 sections long but the > pieces > > > are half the size of the original block. I am guessing they are > wrinkling. > > > What am I doing wrong? > > > > > > Thanks > > > Rachel > > > Senior Scientist.... > > > _______________________________________________ > > > 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 > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet