30% sucrose cryoprotection solution (frozen sections) recipe
Soak fixed tissue before freezing to prevent ice-crystal damage; once the tissue sinks, embed in OCT and freeze.
🧮 Volume calculator
| Component | Amount | Final concentration (1X) |
|---|---|---|
| Sucrose | 15 g | 30% (w/v) |
| 1X PBS | to final volume |
Steps
- Dissolve sucrose in PBS and bring to volume.
- Store at 4 °C (discard if mould appears).
- Keep PFA-fixed tissue at 4 °C until it sinks (usually overnight to 2 days).
Good to know
- Moving large tissue through 15% then 30% reduces distortion.
- Add 0.02% sodium azide for longer storage.
FAQ
The tissue keeps floating.
Sucrose has not fully penetrated yet — give it another day.
This is a widely used standard composition. Amounts depend on the hydrate form and purity of your reagents — check the formula weight (FW) on the bottle and follow your institution's safety rules and the manufacturers' instructions.