How Do Temperature Fluctuations Affect Tissue Samples?
Tissue samples are often fixed, embedded, sectioned, and stained. Temperature fluctuations can impact each of these stages:
Fixation: Temperature can influence the rate of chemical reactions during fixation, potentially leading to incomplete or over-fixation. Embedding: Improper temperatures can cause uneven embedding, leading to artifacts in the final sections. Sectioning: Fluctuations can affect the stability of the paraffin wax, causing issues with sectioning thin slices. Staining: Some stains are temperature-sensitive, and inconsistent temperatures can lead to uneven staining or loss of specificity.
