Histotechnique Flashcards
Cytology
the study of individual cells
Goal of histopathology
Preserve tissues in a life-like manner
–> abnormalities can be identified microscopically
Simplified workflow
obtain –> fix –> slice –> stain
Reason for fixative solution
tissues and cells die/degrade immediately after removal from body
fresh tissues must be transported immediately
placed in fixative solution for transportation
Sources of samples (2)
Surgical (biopsy with clean margins)
Post-mortem (autopsy)
Grossing
Macroscopic evaluation of specimen
Parameters (5)
Size Texture Number/Proportion Markings Locations
Fixation
Preservation go cells and tissues
Life-like as possible
STABILIZE PROTEIN so it is RESISTANT TO FURTHER CHANGES
Function of Fixatives (4)
- Prevents putrefaction (rotting) and autolysis (breakdown)
- Maintain proper relationships between cells and extracellular substances
- Bring out differences in refractive indexes and increase the visibility of/contrast between different tissue elements
- Secondary functions: enhance staining, limiting osmotic effects, prevent desiccation
Autolysis
Self-destruction after cells death
Caused by Intracellular enzymes
Temperature (warm=more damage)
Specialized cells - more rapid, worse damage
Nuclear changes: pyknosis –> karyorrhexis –> karyolysis
*condensed chromatin –> loose
Cytoplasm: granular and swollen
Putrefaction
decomposition by microorganisms
Modes of Action (fixing) (3)
Render - inactivate enzymes by stabilizing proteins
Kill - kill bacteria and molds (toxic)
Make - make tissues more receptive to dyes
Impact of Fixing on Tissues (5)
- Change in size (smaller)
- Change in texture (brittle, hard)
- Lost material (dissolve lipids)
- Chemical alterations (charges and properties may change)
- Fixation artefacts (deposits on and around tissues - affect microscopic imagine)
Volume ratio of Fixative/Tissue
20/1
T/F: dense tissue is faster to fix
FASLE - dense tissues required more time than porous tissues
Fixative Classification (4)
- Chemical action on proteins
- Effect on microscopic appearance of the tissues
- Number of fixing reagents in fixative solution
- Amount of time tissues can remain in fixative
Chemical action on Proteins:
Coagulant - tertiary structure, organelles, mesh
Non-coagulant - cross-linkages (impermeable), insoluble gel (hard to stain)
Additive - combines with protein
Non-additive - changes protein nature, structural configuration or activity
Microscopic appearance of tissue
- Microanatomical fixative - preserve microarchitecture
- Cytological fixative - preserve intracellular structures/inclusions (electron micro)
- Histochemical fixative - minimal changes
simple vs compound fixing sequence
Simple - 1 fixative
Compound - more than 1 fixative in solution