Hydration is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it restores the natural state of the tissue, making it more representative of its in vivo condition. Secondly, proper hydration is necessary for effective staining. Many histological stains are water-based, and tissues need to be hydrated to allow the dye to penetrate properly. Lastly, hydration helps to avoid artifacts that can occur due to drying or dehydration during sample preparation.
