I have basic question - I cut my specimen on the microtome, then I put it on the glass slide and then would like to stain it in the staining jar. However, all the jars are in the vertical position and my specimen often falls down. How to immobilize it?
As Michael states, you can purchase superfrost slides or do it manually with any coating protocol:
Gelatin
Silane
https://www.rndsystems.com/resources/protocols/protocol-preparation-gelatin-coated-slides-histological-tissue-sections
http://www.immunologie-labor.com/cellmarker_files/IET_meth_silane.pdf
This is what we do in our lab, hot plate and then oven overnight, ours are stained in vertical position as well, good luck to you!
In our lab we add gelatin crystals into the water bath where the sections are floated, such that the total percent of gelatin is 3-5% dissolved in solution. The slides are then placed on a hot plate to allow the water to evaporate and the paraffin to melt, which further cements the sections on the slide. We also add a few thymol crystals with the gelatin in the water to prevent growth of microorganisms. The gelatin technique has proven useful even with IHC, though the amount used in solution tends to be higher for IHC. This method is comparatively primitive (since it is mentioned in The Manual of Histologic staining by Lee G. Luna, 1968) but works beautifully. While using gelatin for the first time you can experiment with different amounts (since different brands of gelatin tend to have different strengths) to gauge the ideal amount required to keep your sections in place.
After you ;pick up your section from the waterbath, let the water drain by standing your slide on some paper towel for a few seconds - I usually just put a paper towel on the side of my waterbath and lean the slide against the waterbath. Dry your slide in a 60 to 65 degree oven, still vertical, for 30 to 45 minutes. Make sure that your slides are dry. You can now process with your staining.
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