1. Tissue Preparation: The tissue sample is first dissected and prepared for embedding. It should be free of excess moisture to ensure optimal results.
2. Embedding: The tissue is placed in a mold, and OCT compound is poured over it to completely cover the sample. The mold is then placed on a freezing platform, typically cooled with dry ice or liquid nitrogen, to rapidly freeze the tissue and the OCT compound.
3. Sectioning: Once frozen, the embedded tissue is mounted onto a cryostat. Thin sections, usually 5-20 micrometers thick, are cut using a microtome attached to the cryostat. These sections can then be mounted onto slides for further staining and analysis.
