[Histonet] Microwave Processing
Steven E. Slap
siksik03 <@t> comcast.net
Wed Apr 21 14:09:26 CDT 2004
Hello again HistoNetters
Yes, there are these hybrid mixtures called coagulative fixatives.
They are usually combinations of ethyl alcohol and polyethylene
glycol, and, occasionally, acetic acid. They do not cross-link
proteins. The PEG helps prevent the shrinkage associated with the
use of ethanol as a fixative.
The advantage of all these mixtures is that, no cross-linking having
taken place, no subsequent antigen retrieval (or "unmasking") of the
proteins would be necessary for IHC. Dr. Boon has a good chapter on
them in support of her "Boon-Fix".
To muddy the waters further, there are still other non-formalin
fixatives, which are neither coagulative fixatives, nor cross-linking
fixatives, based on glyoxal, such as Anatech's "Prefer", but which
still are said to chemically "fix" the tissue. I'll leave the
mechanism of their chemistry to the experts.
best regards,
Steven Slap
At 3:51 PM +0100 4/21/04, Marshall Terry Dr, Consultant Histopathologist wrote:
>Kemlo asks:
>
>"Am I talking a load of..........."
>
>Inevitably:-)
>
>Kemlo,
>
>You talk as if formalin was the only fixative. What about the group
>called, oddly enough, coagulative fixatives?
>Now .... I wonder how they work. Let me see ......
>Furthermore, you flit between the several different subjects in an
>unstructured way.
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