Vibratome produced by Leica Biosystems

A vibratome is an instrument used to cut thin slices of material (although, usually thicker slices than those cut in paraffin-embedded samples using a microtome). It is similar to a microtome but uses a vibrating blade to cut through tissue. The vibration amplitude, the speed, and the angle of the blade can all be controlled. Fixed or fresh tissue pieces are embedded in low gelling temperature agarose. The resulting agarose block containing the tissue piece is then attached to a metal block and sectioned while submerged in a water or buffer bath. Individual sections are then collected with a fine brush and transferred to slides or multiwell plates for staining.^[1]

Vibratome is not a generic name but a registered trademark of Leica Biosystems Richmond, Inc. in the USA.

Use of vibratome

Steps to use microtome are the following:^[2]

Preparing the vibratome

A vibratome needs be maintained in a clean and functional state, with proper blade mounting and a clean specimen holder.

Preparing the specimen

Specimen preparation includes fixation and embedding as needed.

Adjusting the thickness

Tissue location and slice thickness must be adjusted properly.

Cutting the sections

After activating the blade, it needs to be guided through the tissue

Cleaning the device

After using the device, it needs to be properly cleaned.

Advantages

• No need to dehydrate tissues prior to embedding, thus decreased loss of cell constituents
• No messy paraffin embedding
• Allows for agarose embedding of tissue to provide cutting stability
• No need to deparaffinise and rehydrate sections prior to immunostaining
• No high temperatures or harsh chemical treatments that may lead to antigen instability
• No special microtome blades required
• Less chance of artifacts caused by paraffin embedding or freezing
• Decreased tissue autofluorescence due to avoidance of formalin-fixation and paraffin embedding
• Less wait period from tissue sampling to time of immunolabelling
• Allows for direct creation of free-floating sections for immunohistochemistry

Disadvantages

• Instead of ribbons, single sections are cut and collected which are more delicate and difficult to handle.
• Sections are generally thicker than those obtained with paraffin methods; penetration of antibodies and other reagents may be slower and thus longer incubation times may be necessary. Also, thick sections may be difficult to image with the microscope. (However, thick sections are compatible and sometimes even desirable if using confocal microscopy.)
• Securing vibratome sections to glass slides can be difficult or impossible, due to the thickness of the sections.^[3]

Experimental Applications

Vibratomes serve a multitude of experimental applications across the life sciences and histology fields.

Availability of the device

Commercial vibratome produced by Precisionary Instrument

Leica Vibratome is a reputable manufacturer known for its precise and reliable Vibratome instruments used in research.^[8]

The Compresstome Vibrating Microtome, produced by Precisionary Instruments, is a notable manufacturer in the vibratome market, offering solutions for tissue sectioning, especially when using agarose embedding for enhanced precision.^[9]

Other notable vibratome manufacturers are Ted Pella, Inc., Vibratome Company and Campden Instruments Ltd.

In media

Vibratomes appear in many pieces of media, although usually fancified to extravagant proportions. In the Metal Gear franchise (mainly in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance), "high frequency blades" are utilized by many characters, namely Gray Fox and Raiden. In the Star Wars franchise, vibratomes are featured numerous times in the form of "Vibro-blades".

Gallery

• 
  Vibratome produced by Precisionary Instrument
• 
  Reading monitor of the device

References