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Problems in Histopathological Technique
Prepared by
ROY ELLIS
IMVS Division of Pathology
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Woodville Road, Woodville, South Australia 5011
Email: roy.ellis@imvs.sa.gov.au
Did you know that tissues which are placed directly into 100% ethyl alcohol from a fixative undergo considerably more shrinkage and distortion than tissues which progress through a series of diluter alcohols such as 70%, 80% and 90%?
This is a result of the great differences in specific gravity and surface tension between the liquid and tissue. If 70% alcohol is used first there is far less volatility in the reaction between fluid and tissue components as the 30% water contained in the solution moderates the interchange of fluids. Going directly into absolute alcohol causes quite a violent reaction between the fluid and tissue components as water is removed from cells quite rapidly. The tissue never fully recovers losing about one third of its volume.
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© Roy C. Ellis 2002