Term
| 10% Neutral-Buffered Formalin |
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Definition
Most common
Advantages: inexpensive, doesn't harden tissues, tissues may be stored indefinitely, results in little tissue shrinkage, permits the use of many different histochemical stains
Disadvantages: vapors irritate the nose and eyes, doesn't preserve pigments(iron) as well as alcohol, reduces the amount of DNA and RNA in tissues, if not properly buffered acid formalin hematin is formed |
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Term
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Definition
Advantages:makes tissue harder than formalin, preferred for eyes, testes, ovaries, and uterus, solution is stable, decalcifies slowly as it fixes tissue, penetrates tissue rapidly, allowing for quick fixation
Disadvantages:over-fixation results in brittle tissue, up to 50% tissue shrinkage, dry picric acid (part of this solution) is explosive, needs to be disposed of as a toxic waste product |
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Term
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Definition
Advantages: preserves normal coloration and gross detail of tissue better than formalin
Disadvantages: difficult to make, doesn't preserve histologic detail |
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Term
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Definition
| Commonly used fixative when utilizing electron microscopy |
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Term
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Definition
Advantages: less irritation to mucous membranes than formalin, penetrates and firms up fatty tissue
Disadvantages: flammable, carcinogen, expensive |
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