Several factors contribute to tissue shrinkage, including:
1. Fixation: The process of preserving tissue can lead to shrinkage. Fixatives such as formalin cause cross-linking of proteins, which may result in tissue contraction. 2. Dehydration: Removal of water from the tissue during processing steps, typically using graded alcohols, leads to shrinkage. 3. Clearing: The replacement of alcohol with a clearing agent like xylene also contributes to tissue shrinkage. 4. Embedding: Infiltration and embedding in paraffin wax or other media can cause additional reduction in tissue size.
