Slicing Parameters

Here are recommended speed and oscillation settings for tissue sectioning

Cutting Parameters

These are suggested slicing parameters for the Compresstome^® vibrating microtomes. Please note that you may need to adjust these settings to optimize tissue sectioning for your own experiments.

Tissue or Sample	Advance (Speed)	Oscillation (Frequency)	Suggested Agarose Concentration (%)
Lung Precision-cut lung slices (PCLS)	2-3	3-4	2%
General fixed tissues	1.5-2	3-4	2%
Brain (live) Electrophysiology Imaging	15.-2	3-4	1.8-2%
Organotypic slices: Tumor research Cultured slices	2-3	4-5	2%
Retina (fixed or acute slices *Infuse with agarose or gelatin to replace vitreous humor	1.5-2	5-6	2.5%
Kidney (acute slices)	3-4	5-6	2.5%
Liver (acute slices)	3-4	5-6	2.5%
Cardiac (fixed or acute slices *Infuse with agarose or gelatin to fill atria/ventricles	1.5-2	5-6	2.5%
Gut (fixed or acute slices)	3-4	3-4	2.5%
Plants (leaves and stems)	3-4	4-5	2%
Plants (seeds)	6-8	2-3	2.5%
Skin (epidermis)	2-3	5-6	2.5%
Muscle (fixed or acute slices)	2-3	4-6	2.5%
Adipose (fixed or acute slices)	4-5	5-6	1.8%
Lymph node (fixed or acute slices)	1.5-2	5-6	2.5%
Spleen (fixed or acute slices)	3-4	6-7	2%
Polymers or hard materials (for paint analysis, matrices, etc)	We recommend that you use a rotary microtome for hard material sectioning. Check out our product line of high quality rotary microtomes here.

Speed & Oscillation (Frequency) Settings

Below are speed and oscillation (frequency) conversions for Compresstome^® VF-510-0Z vibratomes. The graphs help identify the linear speed (mm/s) and oscillation frequency (Hz) of the control box parameters.