I have a protocol for paraformaldehyde that calls for deionized water - unfortunately, our filter is currently out of commission. While I would typically wait for it to be fixed, I need to have para made ASAP as I need to sac animals in 2 days (and it's a time sensitive experiment), so I'm trying to trouble shoot. Would distilled water be a good alternative? It would be used in the perfusion and post-fixation fixatives. I am staining IHC for parvalbumin (using DAB) and my biggest worry is that the use of distilled water will negatively impact the stain/ability to visualize stained neurons. Thanks!
NO in case the water have impurities treat the water with H2O2 (4%) for 5 min to assure that is not contanimation
Of course, distilled water is good enough for immunohistochemistry.
I always used sterlie PBS to make PFA. It could be a goos alternative for you.
Ornella
Hi Jennifer,
The ionic strength of distilled water is higher than that of the deionized water, while the pH of distilled water is lower than deionized water. However, it won’t affect your IHC process. You can use distilled water for PFA preparation.
Hi Jennifer, of course, you can. To get good results for Ca-binding proteines like Parve you should use 4% PFA in 0.025 M Phosphatebuffer and 0.8% NaCl pH 7.4. Prepare this solution with destilled water.
Good luck!
Whether distillation alone removes enough of the impurities depends largely on what kind of contaminants that you have in your starting water supply. Usually distilled water will work just fine. I wouldn't really worry unless like us, your water is delivered through some really old pipes and the tap water tastes terrible.
Distilled water will not adversely affect it. you just need to make sure that it is fresh from the still.
Kind regards,
Kieran
If u r using DW ok but I prefere to use phosphate buffer for good result.
Is perfect distilled water (I always use it), but salts in the mixture can improve the liquids exchanges and if you have a shaker device even better. Good luck.
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