title: Equipment testing and tuning: the cold-knife cryomicrotome microm HM-560.
abstract: A major innovative feature of the Microm HM-560 cryomicrotome is the independent control of specimen and knife temperatures. We used such equipment with a variety of tissues, and fixation and freezing procedures. High-quality sectioning was reproducibly obtained using 1) a low temperature setting for the sectioning blade ("cold knife," about -33 degrees C); 2) a comparatively high temperature for the specimen; and 3) a suitable mounting medium, which would remain solid up to about 0 degrees C. Specimen temperature was set between -8 degrees and -15 degrees C for 4-microm sectioning, higher temperatures (-1 degrees to -8 degrees C) being appropriate when cutting at 10 to 20 microm. Under such conditions, disposable blades were effective throughout, while a modified antiroll plate profile further enhanced usability. After intensive use for almost 3 years, by more than 15 different users, the cryomicrotome is in excellent working order.
authors.affiliation: NEF Laboratory, Department of Cytomorphology, University of Cagliari at Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato (Cagliari), Italy. ferri@unica.it
authors.forename: Gian-Luca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cocco
authors.forename: Ginetta Vitalia
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Melis
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aste
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016616:Cryoultramicrotomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005615:Freezing; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D016610:Tissue Embedding