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.
Steps to use microtome are the following:[2]
Vibratomes serve a multitude of experimental applications across the life sciences and histology fields.
Vibratomes are instrumental in creating live tissue sections, particularly for electrophysiological studies. They enable the preparation of acute brain slices from live specimens, which are essential for techniques like patch-clamp electrophysiology. These slices facilitate the real-time study of neuronal activity and synaptic connections.[4]
Vibratomes play a crucial role in fixed tissue research by providing precise tissue sections that are vital for immunohistochemistry. These sections are used to visualize and analyze specific biomarkers, proteins, or cellular structures within tissues.[5]
Researchers often use Vibratomes to create precision-cut tissue slices, such as precision cut lung slices (PCLS). PCLS are valuable in respiratory research, allowing the investigation of airway reactivity, immune responses, and drug testing in physiologically relevant settings.[6]
Vibratomes are essential for generating organotypic slice cultures. These cultures maintain the integrity of live tissue slices under controlled conditions, making them ideal for studying tissue development, neuronal circuitry, and various cellular processes.[7]
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".