Mounting Slides with Permount
About Permount
Permount is a toluene-based synthetic resin mounting medium. It has a low viscosity allowing for a thinner mounting layer and offering better optical quality and bubble-free preparations. It has a refractive index near that of a fixed protein which helps to keep images free of distortion.
PROCEDURE
- Dehydrate sections to formula 83.
- Mount slides in the fume hood.
- Select the appropriately sized coverslip to fit the section and place on a sheet of fibre-free paper. Apply a drop of mounting medium to the coverslip.
- Using forceps, remove a slide from the coplin jar and make sure any excess/partial sections or debris are carefully cleaned from the slide with a lab wipe. Replace slide or rinse in Formula 83 to ensure the slide does not become “dry” with the heavy airflow of the fume hood.
- Using forceps, remove the slide from the coplin jar and wipe the back quickly; gently lower the slide containing the section onto the drop of Permount so that the section is sandwiched between its slide and the coverslip. Turn the slide over and allow the Permount to spread between the section and coverslip. This part of the process needs to be done fairly slowly to allow time for the Formula 83 and Permount to mix and move across the coverslip.
- Leave slides to dry in fume hood for a few minutes before evaluating
- Gently apply a slide label. Cover slips will “float” for up to 24 hours so keep slides flat until dry.
- Evaluate the slides using the lab staining report.
- Place the labeled slide(s) and your lab report for the method in a slide tray including all relevant documentation/blocks required for submission.
Safety notes on Permount
- Use adequate general or local exhaust ventilation (fume hood)
- Dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat, flame or shock. Vapors can travel to a source of ignition and flash back. Can release vapors that form explosives mixtures at temperatures above the flashpoint.