Abstract
Fixation is the chemical or physical process that allows tissue sections to be viewed in a close approximation to the living tissue.1 Histological fixation practices have been derived from many other fields, such as the leather tanning industry. Fixation is the single most important factor in achieving a well-prepared section for microscopic analysis. Fixation processes should be standardized so that subtle changes in microanatomy may be detected by comparing similarly fixed sections. When tissue is removed from the host, a good fixative will stop autolysis (the dissolution of cells by intracellular enzymatic digestion) and putrefaction (the breakdown of tissue by bacterial action) by inactivating the enzymes, bacteria, and molds that begin to form immediately after death. It will also protect the tissue from excessive shrinkage and swelling, and it will not dissolve or distort the tissue. Dehydrating agents and clearing agents can cause distortion of tissue, so the chosen fixing agent will also protect the cellular constituents so that they will not be altered by these chemicals.2 The fixative must also protect the tissue during the embedding process, which involves polymer impregnation at a high temperature. Finally, it must protect the tissue during sectioning, where the potential for mechanical damage is high.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Eltoum I, Fredenburgh J, Myers RB, et al: Introduction to the theory and practice of fixation of tissues. J Histotechnol 24: 173–190, 2001.
Sheehan D: Theory and Practice of Histotechnology, 2nd ed. Battelle Press, Columbus, OH, 1980: 44–58.
Jenkins L, Claassen E: Perfusion fixation. National Society for Histotechnology Hard Times Communiqué. April, 1992.
von Recum AF: Handbook of Biomaterials Evaluation. Scientific, Technical and Clinical Testing of Implant Materials, 2nd ed. Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, Philadelphia, PA, 1998.
Preece A: A Manual for Histologic Technicians. Churchill, London, Great Britain, 1972: 31–55.
Frost AR, Sparks D, Grizzle WE: Methods of antigen recovery vary in their usefulness in unmasking specific antigens in immunohistochemistry. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morph 8: 236–243, 2000.
Grizzle WE, Manne U, Jhala NC, et al: The molecular characterization of colorectal neoplasia in translational research. Arch Path Lab Med 125: 91–98, 2001.
Bricegridle B: History of Microtechnique, 2nd ed. Science Heritage Limited, Chicago, IL, 1987.
Fox CH, Benton C: Formaldehyde: the fixative. J Histotechnol 10: 199–201, 1987.
Grizzle WE, Myers RB, Manne U, et al: Immunohistochemical evaluation of biomarkers in prostatic and colorectal neoplasia. In: Hanausek M, Walaszek Z, eds: Methods in Molecular Medicine Series-Tumor Marker Protocols. Volume 14. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, 1998.
Arnold MM, Srivastava S, Fredenburgh J, et al: Effects of fixation and tissue processing on immunohistochemical demonstration of specific antigens. Biotech Histochem 71: 224–230, 1996.
Gray P: The Microanatomist’s Formulary and Guide, 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, 1954.
Hayat MA: Principles and Techniques of Electron Microscopy Biological Applications, 2nd ed. Vol. 1. University Park Press, Baltimore, MD, 1981.
Jones ML: To fix, to harden, to preserve-Fixation: a brief history. J Histotechnol 24: 155–162, 2001.
Fox CH, Johnson FB, Whiting J, et al: Formaldehyde fixation. J Histochem Cytochem 33: 845–853, 1985.
Kiernan JA: Histological and Histochemical Methods: Theory and Practice, 3rd ed. Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, UK, 1999.
Skinner RA, Hickmon SG, Lumpkin CK, et al: Decalcified bone: twenty years of successful specimen management. J Histotechnol 20: 267–277.
Robb-Smith AH, Taylor CK: Lymph Node Biopsy. Oxford University Press, London, UK, 1981.
Luna LG: Histopathological Methods and Color Atlas of Special Stains and Tissue Artifacts. American Histolabs, Gaithersburg, MD, 1992: 1–27.
Lillie RD: Histopathologic Technique and Practical Histochemistry, 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, 1965.
Titford M: Safety considerations in the use of fixatives. J Histotechnol 24: 165–171, 2001.
Carson F: Histotechnology, A Self-Instructional Text. ASCP Press, Chicago, IL, 1990: 1–22.
Luna L: Manual of Histologic Staining Methods of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, 1960: 1–6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Jenkins, L.L., Burg, K.J.L. (2003). Tissue Harvesting and Fixation. In: An, Y.H., Martin, K.L. (eds) Handbook of Histology Methods for Bone and Cartilage. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-417-7_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-417-7_8
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-277-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-417-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive