Thick and thin: Part of the section is thick, and part of the section is thin, reflecting inconsistent staining.

Thick and thin: Part of the section is thick, and part of the section is thin, reflecting inconsistent staining.

Causes and remedies

  • Locking mechanisms loose on microtome
    Verify locking mechanisms are tight
  • Blade tension too tight
    Loosen tension on the blade
  • Dull blade
    Move blade to an unused area or insert a new blade
  • Sectioning too quickly
    Slow down sectioning speed
  • Blade angle too low
    Increase blade angle at 1-degree increments
Microscopic image of tissue showing a transition from densely packed cells at the top to more loosely organized cells at the bottom, stained in shades of pink and purple.

Thick and thin: Part of the section is thick, and part of the section is thin, reflecting inconsistent staining. Causes […]