Description
How this lab uses this technology
Vibratome sectioning is a technique used to obtain relatively thick sections of fresh, fixed or lightly processed biological samples without the need for paraffin or resin embedding.
A vibrating blade moves through the specimen while the sample is supported in a liquid-filled chamber. This reduces mechanical compression and helps preserve tissue architecture, cellular organization and antigenicity.
Applications
Vibratome sectioning is particularly suitable for (among others):
Brain and nervous tissue
Animal organs and soft tissues
Plant tissues and organs
Thick tissue slices for fluorescence microscopy
Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence
In situ hybridization
Confocal laser scanning microscopy
Correlative light and electron microscopy
Selection of specific regions for subsequent electron microscopy processing
Sample Preparation
Samples may be processed fresh or after chemical fixation, depending on the experimental objective. The specimen is usually attached to a sample holder and immersed in an appropriate buffer or physiological solution during sectioning.
Section thickness can be adjusted according to the sample type and downstream application. Vibratome sections are generally thicker than ultramicrotome sections and commonly range from approximately 30 to several hundred micrometres.
Advantages
Vibratome sectioning offers several advantages:
No paraffin or resin embedding is required
Reduced exposure to heat and organic solvents
Good preservation of tissue morphology
Improved preservation of fluorescent proteins and antigens
Suitable for relatively large or fragile samples
Production of free-floating sections for staining and immunolabelling
Possibility of obtaining viable tissue slices under appropriate conditions
Limitations
The quality of vibratome sections depends on tissue consistency, fixation, blade condition, cutting speed, vibration amplitude and section thickness.
Very soft, fibrous or highly heterogeneous samples may require protocol optimization or additional support.
Lab-specific experience
CTEM provides support for vibratome sectioning of plant and animal tissues and for the preparation of thick sections for light, fluorescence, confocal and correlative microscopy applications.
Users are encouraged to contact the CTEM technical staff before sample collection or fixation to determine the most appropriate section thickness, fixation conditions and downstream imaging strategy.