Polystyrene Embedding and Spreading of Sections at Lower Temperature

Embedments of histological material for the light microscope using a polystyrene solution (Frangioni and Borgioli Polystyrene Embedding Medium, Polysciences Inc., Catalog no. 15858) has several advantages (Frangioni and Borgioli 1979) including: ease of use, consistency of results, possibility of obtaining sections of any thickness using even a steel knife microtome, possibility of using all staining methods applicable to paraffin embedments, and superior quality of the mounts. Excellent preservation of morphology has been confirmed by pictures taken under the electron microscope of osmium fixed material embedded in polystyrene (Frangioni and Borgioli 1979).