10 Jul Biological tissue fixation, embedding and orientation
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)
Skin (TEM)
Application Notes
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
Recommended
Reagent reservoirs
Microwell plates
Gilson Pipetman Neo (P200) pipettors bundled with mPrep/s capsules
mPrep/s™ Pipettor Kit single-channel
- Single-channel pipettor
- mPrep/s capsule pack
- 96 pipette tips
mPrep/s™ Pipettor Kit eight-channel
- Eight-channel pipettor
- mPrep/s capsule pack
- 96 pipette tips
Videos
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
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
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.
mPrep specimen products
mPrep/s™ Capsule Bodies without Screens – 96 count
96 capsule bodies without screens
Product SKU: 22550$405.00
mPrep/s™ Workstation
Prepare specimens and insert into mPrep/s capsules with or without orientation using integrated screen insertion tool
Product SKU: 42100$1,100.00
mPrep/s™ Insertion Tool
Inserts, removes and adjusts screens in mPrep/s capsules
Product SKU: 32010$35.00
mPrep™ CPD Holder
mPrep™ CPD Holder for critical-point dry processing of up to 6 mPrep/s or 6 mPrep/g capsules. For use with Tousimis® CPD apparatus, and others with 1.25” (32 mm) diameter chambers. Also used for cryogenic specimen preparation.
Product SKU: 33010$510.00
96-well Plates – 500ul per well
96-well plates, polypropylene, round wells with U-bottom, 10/sleeve
Product SKU: 51001$52.00
96-well plates, square well, 1.2ml, polypropylene,10/SLV, sold by SLEEVE
96-well plates, polypropylene, V-bottom, 10/sleeve
Product SKU: 51010$52.25
96-well plates, square well, 1.2ml, polypropylene,100/CS, sold by CASE
96-well plates, polypropylene, V-bottom, 100/case
Product SKU: 51011$419.00
12-Channel Reagent Reservoir – Single pack
12-channel reagent reservoir, polypropylene
Product SKU: 52501$10.50