A simple rapid method to slice biological specimens: an application for non-embedded and embedded Golgi-stained tissue.

A rotary wire saw is faster and simplifies markedly the slicing of soft and hard tissues without apparent loss of quality. Two applications for the Golgi-Cox method (using the rotary wire saw) are described: one eliminates specimen freezing and embedding while the other uses LR-White instead of celloidin, reducing preparation time. Sections of 20 microns to several mm thick can be obtained.

Transmission acoustic microscopy of tissue sections (1 GHz). Histoacoustics and acoustic staining.

The acoustic microstructure of mouse small intestine has been studied with a transmission acoustic microscope working at 1 GHz and the influence of the histologic processing on the microacoustic pattern has been tested. Unstained thin sections provide pictures rich in details and highly contrasted. Gelatin has been used as hydrosoluble embedding medium and has been compared to paraffin. The former embedding procedure retained the viscoelastic properties of the specimen far more and provided the most detailed pictures. Osmiun tetroxide has been used to demonstrate acoustic staining.