How Are Preservatives Used in Histological Procedures?
The use of preservatives in histology involves several steps:
Fixation: The tissue is immersed in a preservative solution immediately after excision. This step is critical to prevent autolysis and microbial growth. Processing: Once fixed, tissues are processed through a series of solutions to remove water and replace it with a medium (usually paraffin) that supports sectioning. Embedding: The processed tissue is embedded in a solid medium to facilitate thin sectioning for microscopic examination. Sectioning: Thin sections of the embedded tissue are cut using a microtome and placed on slides for staining and examination.
