Document Type

Research

Abstract

Of all the water-soluble waxes, Diglycol Stearate seems to be the most promising as an embedding medium for the purposes of this investigation; therefore experimentation on its usefulness has been extensive. It is a soap-like, white solid, having a waxy consistency suitable for sectioning with a rotary microtome. Diglycol Stearate as an embedding medium has several advantages over the usual paraffin technique. One of great possible importance is that preliminary dehydration and clearing of tissue can be eliminated, which may make possible the preservation of the phospholipoids of the cell membrane. The tissue may be removed in alcoholic dehydration from 70% alcohol and thoroughly infiltrated within 48 hours by first placing it in a mixture of alcohol and Diglycol Stearate for 24 hours, then pure Diglycol Stearate. Embedding is simplified by reason of the fact that a good block may be produced by merely cooling at room temperature. The use of Diglycol Stearate eliminates electrification in sectioning; good ribbons may be obtained at a thickness of 2 or 3 microns, and if the lipoids of the cell membranes can be preserved there is the possibility of the cell membranes staining more distinctly.

Publication Date

1941

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

Issue

First Page

484

Last Page

485

Copyright

Language

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Stiles, Karl A. and Peterson, Jean (1941) "A Progress Report on a Method for Histological Preparations Eliminating Fat Solvents (Abstract)," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 48(1), 484-485.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol48/iss1/127

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A Progress Report on a Method for Histological Preparations Eliminating Fat Solvents (Abstract)

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