Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T09:06:26.618Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Block Trimming On The Microtome For Serial Sections

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2018

Sara E. Miller*
Affiliation:
Duke University Medical Center

Extract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Rough trim the excess plastic from the specimen face with a razor blade, keeping all the tissue edges. Put the specimen chuck into the microtome arm, and put in a dry glass knife. Shave off enough plastic from the front (face) in very small increments (start with 1 μm slices, decrease to 0.5 μm, then 0.1 μm until you get a mirror smooth face). If you must keep all the sample, then start with a very thin shaving just to get the face smooth. You should be able to tell when you are into the tissue by looking at the thin shavings. Mark the top edge of the one that will become the top of your trapezoid-with a magic marker on the chuck.

Type
Microscopy 101
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2000