[Histonet] Honey as a fixative?

[Philip Oshel]

If insufficiently proof-read. Need more coffee ...

>Ah, the voice of reason.
>
>Dr Terry L Marshall, B.A.(Law), M.B.,Ch.B.,F.R.C.Path
>  Consultant Pathologist
>  Rotherham General Hospital
>  South Yorkshire
>  England
>         terry.marshall <@t> rothgen.nhs.uk
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Philip Oshel [mailto:oshel1pe <@t> cmich.edu]
>Sent: 25 September 2006 13:26
>To: Histonet <@t> Pathology.swmed.edu
>Subject: Re: [Histonet] Honey as a fixative?
>
>
>I would be very surprised if there is anything in honey that acts as
>a fixative. Remember that honey is evolved to be food for growing bee
>larvae, not exactly something compatible with fixation.
>I do find it easy to believe that honey acts as a preservative,
>simply because its high sugar content makes honey a strong
>dehydrating agent. This will perserve tissue and prevent bacterial
>and fungal growth. It would be interesting to do a similar study on
>salt-preserved tissues. I suspect the results would be similar,
>although the morphology would be uglier in the salt-preseved tissue
>because salt's strong osmotic effects.
>
>Phil
>
>>Dear all
>>    I saw an article in the Journal of Histotechnology on honey as a
>>fixative and was impressed by the innovative spirit of the authors.
>>    It would be helpful to the whole histo community if more studies
>>are done on honey as a fixative.
>>    The main question should be if the results are reproducible by
>>other investigators using honey from different areas. It would be
>>also interesting to know the component of honey that is responsible
>>for the fixation.
>>    James Mubiru
>
>--
>Philip Oshel
>Microscopy Facility Supervisor
>Biology Department
>Central Michigan University
>024C Brooks Hall
>Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
>voice: (989) 774-3576
>dept. fax: (989) 774-3462
>
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-- 
Philip Oshel
Microscopy Facility Supervisor
Biology Department
Central Michigan University
024C Brooks Hall
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
voice: (989) 774-3576
dept. fax: (989) 774-3462