Histology FAQ
Staining, Histochemistry and Histotechnology
(Frequently Asked Questions)
Dr. John A. Kiernan
Department of Anatomy
and Cell Biology
The University of Western Ontario
London, Canada
Wrinkles in
plastic sections
Question.
How can I prevent wrinkles in sections (0.5 to 2 micrometers) of plastic-embedded tissue stained for light microscopy?
Answer.
The wrinkles form when mounted plastic sections are stained in a hot aqueous dye solution. Chandler & Schoenwolf (1983) found that the wrinkles did not form if sections were dried down onto acid-washed slides, overnight, at 76 C. They thought acid-washing might improve the glass surface in some way. The minimum drying time was 6 hours. The temperature was also important. Variation was not fully investigated, but neither 60 C nor 90 C was efffective in preventing wrinkles.
Reference: Chandler, NB & Schoenwolf, GC (1983) Wrinkle-free plastic sections for light microscopy. Stain Technology 58: 238-240.
John A. Kiernan,
Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology,
The University of Western Ontario,
London, CANADA N6A 5C1
(kiernan[AT]uwo.ca)