Andrew,
This is what I thought you were doing.  Try and figure out a way to cut your
samples thinner, I use a diamond wire saw or disc saw.  The thickness is the
most important as it determines how the GMA infiltrates.  The thicker the sample
is the longer it takes to penetrate to ensure complete infiltration.
Patsy

Andrew Kennedy wrote:

> Thanks for the tips Patsy,
>
> The biopsies are usually iliac and are fairly hefty cores sometimes up to 4
> or 5 mm thick, but usually not longer than about 20mm - similar in size to
> the bone marrow trephines that we also get (but these get decalcified!)
> They are for diagnosis of metabolic bone diseases.
>
> Regards
>
> Andrew
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rueggp 
> To: Andrew Kennedy 
> Cc: Histonet 
> Date: Wednesday, 27 February 2002 17:48
> Subject: Re: Mineralised Bone biopsies
>
> Andrew,
> it depends on the size, thickness, and density of the bone samples you will
> be
> processing.  large trephine (we get samples taken with a large trans illiac
> biopsy needle which are much bigger than the Jam Shidi needles used in the
> past)  can be processed in to glycol methacrylate (Polyscieces JB4 kit) if
> you
> make sure the samples are cut to a thickness of no more than 1-2mm using a
> diamond wire or disc saw.  i routinely cut samples of mineralized bone this
> size
> on rotary microtomes (i prefer the Sorvall JB4 microtome) using a d profile
> tungsten carbide knife.  i make my own GMA so that i can control the
> hardness,
> but you can buy it as a kit from Polysciences.  larger/denser samples may
> require harder methylmethacrylate processing.  The stroke window size of the
> rotary microtome will determine the limit of the area size of the bone
> sample
> you can cut.  anyway, we need to know a few more details about what kind of
> bone
> samples you want to process to advise you further.  it is getting late, not
> sure
> i am still coherent.
> patsy
>
> Andrew Kennedy wrote:
>
> > Hi Histonetters,
> >
> > We are in the process of setting up a Mineralised Bone Histo section in
> our
> > Department and we need some advice. We are continuing the work of another
> > department who have handed over this job to us and would like to
> streamline
> > the process a bit. The way they make up their resin is long, tedious and
> > tricky, so that is the first thing I would like to "fix". Secondly we use
> > "spare time" on another departments' old sledge microtome to cut the bones
> > and I would like to purchase our own equipment to get away from having to
> > fit in with another lab.
> > So firstly, has anyone had any experience cutting Mineralised (not
> > decalcified!) bone on a heavy duty rotary microtome or should we be using
> a
> > sledge?
> > Secondly, what resins do you use and are they available in easy to use kit
> > forms?
> >
> > Thanks for any help in advance
> >
> > Andrew Kennedy
> >
> > Senior Science Officer in charge - Histopathology.
> > Department of Anatomical Pathology
> > Concord Repatriation General Hospital
> > Hospital Road
> > Concord, NSW, Australia
> > 2139
> > Phone: +612 9767 6115
> > Fax: +612 9767 8427
> >
> > "Noli illegitimi carborundum"
> >
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