A Method for Serial Tissue Processing and Parallel Analysis of Aberrant Crypt Morphology, Mucin Depletion, and Beta-Catenin Staining in an Experimental Model of Colon Carcinogenesis

Table 4 Estimated procedure and training time

Phase	Procedure	Procedure time (min)^a	Training time (min)^b
Necropsy	Colon excision and cleaning	1	10
	Whole mount preparation	2	20
ACF identification and analysis	Methylene blue staining^c	4	8
	Image acquisition	8	24
	Circumscribing ACF	15	60
	ACF image extraction	1	5
	Methylene blue image analysis	15	60
MDF identification and analysis	HID-AB staining^c	5	10
	Image acquisition	8	0
	Image layer alignment	1	10
	MDF image extraction	1	0
	HID-AB image analysis	10	30
Total time		71	237

^aProcedural time required per slide, three slides per animal comprising the ascending, transverse, and descending colon
^bRecommended one-time training. Does not require an advanced level degree or certification
^cRepresents hands on time of multiple slides stained in batch rather than stained individually

ISSN: 1480-9222