[Histonet] Nuclear Bubbles

[lpwenk <@t> sbcglobal.net]

Tissues fixed in formalin are more susceptible to nuclear bubbling than a
mercury or zinc fixative, due to formalin being a poor fixative for nuclei -
it doesn't cross-link and stabilized the nuclear proteins as well as metal
fixatives (zinc-formalin, mercuric fixatives such as Zenker or B5)..

Tissues under-fixed in formalin are more susceptible to nuclear bubbling
than those tissues properly fixed, as the nuclear proteins do not have as
many stabilizing cross-links.

Placing slides in drying ovens over 60 degrees C. are more likely to show
nuclear bubbling than slides dried under 60 degrees C., especially those
tissues under-fixed in formalin. The theory is that the water under the
tissue "steams" at the higher temperatures, breaking the few cross-links in
the nuclei, thus rearranging the chromatin around the outside of the steam
bubbles. Well fixed tissue would have enough nuclear cross-links to resist
the chromatin rearrangement by steam. Nuclei fixed with metal fixatives have
more and stronger cross-links to resists the steam rearrangement than
formalin fixed tissues.

So look at fixation time and slide drying temperature.

Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)SLS
William Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, MI 48073


----- Original Message -----
From: "Annette Hall" <Annette_hall <@t> pa-ucl.com>
To: <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2004 11:09 PM
Subject: [Histonet] Nuclear Bubbles


> Hi,
>
> Over the past 6 months, our lab has struggled intermittently with an
> artifact on our H&E slides. The nucleus will appear to have bubbled. This
> seems to be most prevalent in prostate biopsies, but we have also seen it
in
> endometrial biopsies. We use a Leica Autostainer XL with Richard Allan
> reagents. We have adjusted drying times and oven temps but we still
continue
> to occasionally see bubbles. Has anyone had this experience or know what
is
> causing this? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Annette J. Hall, MT
> Micro/Histo/Cyto Supervisor
> United Clinical Labs
> 205 Bluff St.
> Dubuque, IA 52001
> 563.556.2010 x131
>
>
>
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