How are Histological Samples Prepared for Toxicology Studies?
Preparing histological samples involves several steps:
1. Fixation: This preserves tissue morphology and prevents degradation. Common fixatives include formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde. 2. Embedding: The fixed tissues are embedded in paraffin wax, providing support for thin sectioning. 3. Sectioning: Thin slices of the embedded tissue are cut using a microtome. 4. Staining: Sections are stained to highlight different cellular components. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) are commonly used stains.