Abstract
THE disadvantage of liquid air1 as a cooling bath for the rapid quenching necessary in freezing and drying for cytological purposes was recognized by Hoerr2 as the formation of a vapour coat of low thermal conductivity around the specimen. He introduced isopentane for this purpose as a liquid of high boiling point which did not vaporize around the piece of tissue. Isopentane cannot be cooled below its melting point, −160° C., and near this temperature is a thick liquid which cannot be stirred efficiently. In a search for a better bath liquid it has been found that propane has several advantages. It can be cooled to −190° C. and is still very fluid near its melting point. It is easily obtainable as ‘Propagas’ (B.O.C.)3. Both isopentane and propane have to be cooled with liquid nitrogen, because of the fire and explosion hazard with liquid air or oxygen.
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References
Gersh, I., Anat. Rec. (U.S.A.), 53, 309 (1932).
Hoerr, N. L., Anat. Rec. (U.S.A.), 63, 293 (1936).
Bell, L. G. E., “Int. Rev. Cytology”, 1 (New York) ; “Freezing and Drying” (Inst. of Biology, London).
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BELL, L. Cooling Bath for Cytological Investigations. Nature 170, 719 (1952). https://doi.org/10.1038/170719b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/170719b0
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