[Histonet] stability of lipids in wax

[Kemlo Rogerson]

Feustel and Geyer (Acta Histochem. (Jena), 25: 219, 1966)suggest that
phospholipids can be retained after acrolein fixation. Loss of polar
lipids occurs after fixation in formalin.

Baker and Elbers and Adams noted retention of lipids in tissue after
calcium was added to formalin; cationic bridges, it is suggested, are
formed between the polar groups of phospholipids , calcium and other
tissue constituents. 

Hydrophilic lipids can be retained by using osmium tetraoxide
(Wigglesworth, Proc. R. Soc Lond. (Biol) 147:185, 1957) or by using
potassium dichromate (Eftman J.Histochem Cytochem, 2:1 1954) Both of
these oxidants produce cyclic metal esters bridging a former double
bond.

Elleder and Lojda (Histochemie, 34:143, 1973) detected significant
amounts of sphingomyelin, cerebrosides, sulphatides and gangliosides
after formalin fixation, ethanol acetone and xylene, with paraffin
embedding. 

Once again, the God that is Lillie explains much.

Kemlo Rogerson
Pathology Manager
DD   01934 647057 or extension 3311
Mob 07749 754194; Pager 07659 597107;


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