Processing Lung Tissue Without Water and Organic Solvents

Abstract

Infusion of melted paraffin into the mouse lung makes it possible to cut and process the dried-out lung tissue without water and organic solvents. The lung filled with paraffin is attached to the block and cut as conventional paraffin embedded samples that can be examined under the microscope. Alternatively, lung sections can be infiltrated with paraffin oil to remove the solidified paraffin from the alveoli and to clarify the tissue. This technique was applied to the detection of quinine distribution in the lung tissue. (The J Histotechnol 18:337, 1995)

Keywords:

• lung
• paraffin infusion
• quinine distribution
• water-free processing