Histological cut of a paraffin-embedded blastocyst: Optimized protocol for murine blastocysts

Abstract

Paraffin-embedded tissues have been used for research and therapeutic applications for decades, as they represent a valuable tool in histology and for molecular analysis, as well as being a way to preserve tissue samples for long periods at a low cost. For tissues such as the liver, lungs, kidney, heart or brain, there are many protocols available, already optimized. The purpose of this work is to optimize and simplify the protocols already available to take a single blastocyst from a mouse, fix it and embed it into a paraffin block without using gelatin, to then perform histological cuts using a microtome, with no need of sophisticated equipment or trained personnel. • The protocol presented here preserves well the morphology of the blastocyst. • Paraffin-embedded sections of the sample can be used for studies such as in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, enzyme histochemistry, DNA, RNA or protein extractions, analysis of biomarkers, characterization of surface markers of stem cells integrated into the embryo, to prepare histological material for educational purposes, etc. • Some of these studies could represent a valuable source of new information for the field of reproductive biology.

Keywords

• Assisted reproduction
• Mice
• Histology
• Blastocyst
• Paraffin