What are the Common Issues and How to Address Them?
Over-Fixation or Under-Fixation Over-fixation can lead to tissue hardening, while under-fixation can result in poor preservation. To avoid these issues, it is important to use the correct concentration of fixative and adhere to the recommended fixation time for each tissue type.
Incomplete Dehydration Incomplete dehydration can cause poor infiltration of the embedding medium, leading to artifacts in tissue sections. Ensuring thorough dehydration by extending the time in higher ethanol concentrations can mitigate this issue.
Inadequate Clearing Inadequate clearing can result in opaque tissues that are difficult to section. Using fresh clearing agents and ensuring sufficient clearing time can help achieve optimal tissue transparency.
Embedding Artifacts Embedding artifacts such as air bubbles or improper orientation can compromise the quality of tissue sections. Careful handling and proper technique during embedding can minimize these artifacts.
