One side is prepared for cell adhesion, and is labeled. They are compatible with alcohol, acetone and propylene oxide as solvents, and with Epon, Spurr's and araldite mixtures for resin. These coverslips come in sizes which fit well into tissue culture plates. Other investigators have successfully used glass coverslips, membrane inserts and plastic petri plates. Permanox plates were also recommended, cells may be grown, fixed and embedded in the chambers.
Most people use a dip into liquid nitrogen to facilitate removal of the coverslip after embedding.
Other simply pull the coverslip off while still warm from the embedding oven. If the coverslip is not removed, it may still be sectioned with a diamond knife, however, the coverslip may separate from the resin under the electron beam. If the coverslip if removed, various methods are suggested to position the cells parallel or perpendicular to the bloc face. A compilation of the responses follows, MANY helpful tricks will be found on these pages. I use standard glass coverslips - round ones that fit in 24 and 12 well culture dishes.