What is Tissue Preservation?
Tissue preservation refers to the process of maintaining the structural and molecular integrity of biological tissues for
histological analysis. Proper preservation is crucial for accurate diagnosis, research, and understanding of tissue architecture.
What is the Process of Cryopreservation?
Cryopreservation involves rapidly freezing tissues to prevent ice crystal formation, which can damage cellular structures. Tissues are often snap-frozen using
liquid nitrogen or dry ice. This method is particularly useful for preserving
RNA,
proteins, and other molecules for subsequent molecular analyses.
How Does Embedding Aid in Tissue Preservation?
Embedding involves infiltrating tissues with a medium that hardens, providing support for thin sectioning.
Paraffin wax is commonly used for light microscopy, while
resins like epoxy or acrylic are used for electron microscopy. The embedding process ensures that tissues can be cut into very thin sections, which are essential for detailed microscopic examination.
Fixation artefacts: Improper fixation can lead to artefacts that may obscure or alter tissue morphology.
Freezing damage: Slow freezing can cause ice crystals to form, damaging cellular structures.
Autolysis: Delays in preservation initiation can lead to tissue degradation by endogenous enzymes.
Conclusion
Tissue preservation is a fundamental aspect of histology that ensures the integrity of samples for various analyses. By understanding and applying appropriate preservation techniques, researchers and clinicians can obtain accurate and reliable data from tissue specimens.
