Clearing II Flashcards
What is chloroform suitable for?
Chloroform is suitable for large tissue specimens.
Is chloroform inflammable?
No, chloroform is not inflammable.
What is a disadvantage of chloroform related to liver toxicity?
Chloroform is relatively toxic to the liver after prolonged inhalation; this may be prevented by adequate room ventilation.
How does chloroform affect wax impregnation?
Wax impregnation after chloroform clearing is relatively slow.
Does chloroform make tissues transparent?
No, chloroform does not make tissues transparent.
What is a challenge with chloroform in a paraffin oven?
Chloroform is not very volatile in a paraffin oven; hence, it is difficult to remove from paraffin sections.
What can chloroform vapor attack?
Chloroform vapor may attack the rubber seal used in vacuum impregnating baths.
What is a challenge in evaluating chloroform clearing?
Complete clearing with chloroform is difficult to evaluate.
What happens to tissues in chloroform?
Tissues tend to float in chloroform; this may be avoided by wrapping the tissues with absorbent cotton gauze to facilitate sinking of the section in solution.
How quickly does chloroform evaporate?
Chloroform evaporates quickly from a water bath.
What is cedarwood oil used for?
Cedarwood oil is used to clear both paraffin and celloidin sections during the embedding process.
What types of tissues is cedarwood oil especially recommended for?
It is especially recommended for central nervous system tissues and cytological studies, particularly of smooth muscles and skin.
How many changes in clearing solution does cedarwood oil require?
It requires two changes in clearing solution.
How long does clearing usually take with cedarwood oil?
Clearing is usually complete in 2-3 days.
What is one advantage of cedarwood oil?
It is very penetrating.
How does cedarwood oil interact with 96% alcohol?
It is miscible with 96% alcohol which it removes readily.
How long does it take for cedarwood oil to clear celloidin?
It clears celloidin in 5-6 days.
What effect does cedarwood oil have on tissue shrinkage?
It causes minimal shrinkage of tissues.
Can tissues be left in cedarwood oil indefinitely?
Yes, tissues may be left in oil indefinitely without considerable damage and distortion.
Does cedarwood oil dissolve aniline dyes?
No, it does not dissolve out aniline dyes.
What effect does cedarwood oil have on tissue transparency?
It makes tissues transparent.
Does cedarwood oil harden tissues?
No, it does not harden tissues.
How does cedarwood oil affect paraffin penetration?
It does not interfere too seriously with paraffin penetration if it is not completely removed.
What is one disadvantage of cedarwood oil?
It is an extremely slow clearing agent, hence, it is not recommended for routine purposes.
How does the penetration speed of cedarwood oil compare to benzene?
It is slightly slower in penetrating than benzene.
What can be done to hasten the wax impregnation process after using cedarwood oil?
Transferring the specimen from oil to benzene for 1/2 hour before finally placing the tissue in wax may improve the process.
What issue can arise with the quality of tissues cleared in cedarwood oil?
Quality is not always uniform and good; tissues may initially float before gradually sinking.
How can drying out of tissues be prevented during the clearing process?
This can be prevented by superimposing absolute alcohol on the surface of the clearing agent.
What happens to cedarwood oil upon prolonged storage?
Cedarwood oil becomes milky and should be filtered before use.
What issue can arise from using previously used cedarwood oil?
It may produce crystals with a melting point of approximately 35°C, interfering with adequate clearing.
How can the crystals formed in cedarwood oil be dissolved?
The solution must be heated to 200°C in order to dissolve the crystals.
What is Aniline oil used for?
Aniline oil is recommended for clearing embryos, insects, and very delicate specimens due to its ability to clear 70% alcohol without excessive tissue shrinkage and hardening.