10 Jul Biological tissue fixation, embedding and orientation

Posted at 21:21h in by Bobbi Tannenbaum 0 Comments

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The mPrep System streamlines the entire tissue preparation and grid staining workflow.

Problems

Tissue prep for TEM can require dozens of reagent exchanges per specimen, using laboratory equipment not well suited for this purpose. This presents microscopists with multiple challenges:

Difficulty achieving uniform processing times across multiple samples
Reagent consumption excessive relative to the amount required to ensure reaction
Achieving proper orientation is time consuming
Specimens damage from contact with air, vials, and transfer pipettes
Lost specimens when difficult to see or they stick to containers

mPrep Solutions

Automated walk-away reagent processing with the mPrep ASP-1000
Simultaneous processing of reagent exchanges assures uniform timing
Controlled reagent usage with pipettors = reduced reagent consumption
Accurate orientation in seconds using the mPrep Workstation
Encapsulated specimen reduces handling = fewer damaged specimens
Entrapped specimens are harder to lose. Will not float.
Labeled capsules are easy to track.

Cardiac muscle (TEM)

cardiac muscle med mag 7x5in 504x360px.006

Skin (TEM)

Application Notes

AN501: Capsule-based Processing of Biological Tissue for TEM

AN604: Automated Preparation of Agar-Embedded Cells for TEM

AN603: Rapid Processing of 24 Liver specimens for TEM with the mPrep™ ASP-1000 Automated Processor

AN602: Fast Processing of Muscle Tissue for TEM with the mPrep™ ASP-1000 Automated Processor

AN601: Fast, Automated Tissue Processing of Mammalian Kidney for TEM with the mPrep™ ASP-1000

Required

mPrep/s capsules to hold specimens

An insertion tool is required to insert, remove and adjust the mPrep/s screen. There are two options:

mPrep/s Insertion tool
mPrep/s Workstation (w/integrated insertion tool): required to orient specimens using the pinch method. Recommended because of its additional benefits
- Precise specimen orientation in seconds
- Wet samples easy to handle
- Single focal plane keeps specimens in focus
- Simultaneous loading of capsules onto pipettor for reagent processing

mPrep/f couplers to prevent introducing damaging reagents into pipettors

Pipettor (such as a Gilson P200 volume) to enable reagent pipetting into mPrep/s capsules

mPrep/bench to seal capsule bottoms during long reagent treatments and resin curing

Product Descriptions

mPrep/s Workstation Product Description

mPrep Bench96 Product Description

mPrep/s Capsules Product Description

ASP-1000 Brochure

Publications

Abstract

Abstract + Presented Poster

Journal publication

Abstract + Presented Poster

Journal publication

Abstract + Presented Poster

Abstract

Abstract + Presented Poster

Videos

Preparing Embedded TEM Specimens for Sectioning

This video tutorial shows how to trim and face an embedded block inside an mPrep/s capsule. The capsule is clamped into a microtome chuck for trimming, facing and sectioning.

1 minutes 17 seconds

Using the mPrep Workstation for Oriented and Unoriented Specimens

The tutorial starts by introducing the mPrep Workstation. Then it demonstrates how to load and orient specimens into mPrep capsules. Three methods are shown: pinch, compression and cup.

5 minutes 19 seconds

Webinar: Walk-away Biological Specimen Prep for the 21st Century Lab

This 18-minute webinar (broadcast 25 September 2019) presents how the ASP-1000 automates the preparation of biological specimens for TEM and SBEM (serial block face SEM) to provide walk-away convenience, reduced processing time, and easy clean-up. The webinar also discusses how the ASP-1000 provides pre-programmed protocols for preparing multiple tissues and for immunolabeling, and how users can easily modify existing or create new protocols.