Fixation Flashcards
What does non-additive fixation means?
Fixing agent is not incorporated into the tissue
What does additive fixation means?
chemical constituent of the fixative is taken in and becomes part of the tissue
What is the mechanism of additive fixation?
forming cross-links or molecular complexes and giving stability to the protein
What is the mechanism of non-additive fixation?
Alters the tissue composition and stabilizes the tissue by removing the bound water attached to H-bonds of certain groups within the protein molecule
Fixation temperature for Electron Microscopy and Histochemistry
4°C
Fixation temperature using autotechnicon
40°C
Temperature for manual fixation
Room temperature
Penetration rate of formalin
1 mm/hr
Fixative volume for maximum effective fixation
20x the volume of the specimen
Enumerate the 5 NUCLEAR fixatives:
Carnoy’s
Bouin’s
Newcomer’s
Heidenhain’s Susa
Flemmings with HAc (Acetic acid)
Enumerate the 4 CYTOPLASMIC fixatives:
Regaud’s/Moller’s
Orth’s
Formalin with post chroming
Flemmings without HAc (Acetic acid)
How to make 1 Liter of 10% formalin?
100 ml of 37%-40% formalin + 900 ml distilled water
Disadvantage of formalin
Prolonged storing causes precipitation of formaldehyde to paraformaldehyde
Remedy to prevent the precipitation of formaldehyde
Add 10% methanol
Primary goal of fixation
Preserve tissue
Secondary goal of fixation
Hardens tissue
Protects tissue from trauma of further handling
Why do we need to achieve hardening of tissue?
To facilitate easy cutting of specimen into thin slices
Factors involved in fixation: (7)
- Correct size and thickness
- pH
- Osmolality
- Concentration of fixative
- Observe correct volume
- Time & duration
- Temperature
Factors to be considered when choosing the appropriate fixative: (5)
- Urgency of the case
- Type of tissue to be processed
- Tissue structure to be studied
- Staining technique
- Type of section to be studied
Factors that retard/slow fixation process: (4)
- Cold temperature
- Presence of blood and mucus
- Size and thickness of specimen
- Presence of Fats
Remedy for presence of blood and/or mucus in the tissue
Wash the tissue with NSS
Remedy for specimens with fats
Cut the specimen thinly to ensure rapid entry or penetration of fixative
Factors that accelerates fixation:
- Size and thickness
- Heat application
- Agitation
Problems encountered during fixation
- Loss of substances soluble in fixing agents
- Inadequate fixation
- Over fixation
- Presence of Artifacts
Ideal pH of fixative
pH 6-8
Ideal osmolality of fixative (by the book)
Slightly hypertonic
Ideal osmolality of fixative in real setting
Isotonic
Correct size and thickness of specimen
3x2 cm, 3-5mm thick
Recommended size for large specimens like lungs
1-2cm
Ratio of fixative volume to specimen
15-20:1
Which fixative must be 5-10x the volume of the specimen if used
a. Mercuric Chloride
b. Bouin’s
c. Formol Zenkers/Zenker’s formol
d. Osmium tetroxide
D. Osmium tetroxide
Formaldehyde/Formalin Fixatives (4)
- 10% formol saline
- 10% Neutral Buffered formalin
- Formol corrosive/Formol sublimate
- Alcoholic Formalin/Gendres
Classification of fixatives according to action/purpose that preserves cell parts
Cytological fixative
What are the 2 cytological fixative?
- Nuclear Fixatives
- Cytoplasmic fixatives