What is OCT and what are the pros and cons of using it?

OCT (optimal cutting temperature) compound is used to preserve the structure of a sample when it is frozen and during cryosectioning. OCT is water soluble and does not penetrate the tissue, meaning it can be washed away during sample preparation. pros: preparation is quick, sample shows little autofluorescence and is sensitive to immunohistochemistry, does not require fixed tissue, allows for longitudinal studies. cons: tissue degradation over time, requires rapid processing, loss of cellular viability.