X-Message-Number: 5413 Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1995 11:13:10 -0800 (PST) From: Doug Skrecky <> Subject: Radiation preservation There seem to be two main problems with using radiation as the sole preservation method. #1. Poor uniformity of irradiation of large tissue blocks. #2. Destruction of tissue components due to high temperatures. Both problems appear to be solvable by using low intensity radiation only as an assist in chemical preservation of tissue stored in an ice bath. Penetration rate of fixatives into tissue is increased by the use of a microwave oven at defrost setting. *1 Ethanol is the best fixative for DNA & RNA preservation and an ethanol/polyethylene mixture known as Kryofix is reputed to be the best fixative for use in conjunction with microwaves. *2 *3 *4 *1 Histochemical Journal 25:719-725 1993 *2 Exp. Hematol. 16:730-732 1988 *3 Biotechniques 16(6): 1021-1023 1994 *4 Archives in Histopathology 341-346 1990 Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=5413