>X-SILO-POPserver: bramor at gimr>X-Sender: laukus at gimr.garvan.unsw.edu.au>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 13:19:39 +1000
>To: b.morgan at garvan.unsw.edu.au (Branwen Morgan)
>From: Laura Kus <l.kus at garvan.unsw.edu.au>
>Subject: Info for Francisco Fernandez
>> Below is information in response to Francisco Fernandez's question
>of 23 March 1999
>> Immersion of a warm mouse brain into liquid nitrogen will almost
>certainly result in shattering of the tissue. You should never drop any
>biological specimen bigger than a few mm into liquid nitrogen if you want
>to preserve morphology. Shattering can be avoided if place the brain on a
>metal platform that is SLOWLY lower into the liquid nitrogen. Starting
>with tissue that is cold may also help.
>> Have you tried to freeze your tissue on dry ice? A mouse brain
>should freeze relatively quickly. The tissue can be placed on foil that
>sits directly on a slab of dry ice. As soon as the brain sticks, wrap the
>edges of the foil around the specimen and cover it with small pieces of
>crushed dry ice. The brain should freeze within a minute.
>> Remember it is important to cryoprotect (sucrose or glycerol) after
>paraformaldehyde fixation if you want nice morphology.
>>>
