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Related Concept Videos

Fixation and Sectioning01:03

Fixation and Sectioning

Two basic types of preparation are used to visualize specimens with a light microscope: wet mounts and fixed specimens.
The simplest type of preparation is the wet mount, in which the specimen is placed in a drop of liquid on the slide. A liquid specimen can be directly deposited on the slide using a dropper. Solid specimens, such as skin scraping, can be placed on the slide before adding a drop of liquid to prepare the wet mount. Sometimes the liquid is simply water, but stains are often added...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Whole Animal Perfusion Fixation for Rodents
08:53

Whole Animal Perfusion Fixation for Rodents

Published on: July 30, 2012

Perfusion of brain tissues with fixative.

Carol Ann Paul, Barbara Beltz, Joanne Berger-Sweeney

    CSH Protocols
    |March 2, 2011
    PubMed
    Summary

    This protocol details a method for perfusing rat brains with fixative, a chemical that hardens tissue for histological analysis. Proper fixation is crucial for preserving brain structure and ensuring the success of subsequent staining techniques like immunocytochemistry.

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Histology
    • Experimental Biology

    Background:

    • Brain tissue is soft and requires fixation for histological examination and lesion/electrode localization.
    • Fixatives are chemicals that cross-link tissue molecules, hardening and preserving the brain.
    • The choice of fixative can impact the sensitivity of staining techniques, particularly immunocytochemistry.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To describe a method for perfusing rat brains with fixative.
    • To outline a technique utilizing gravity feed and cardiac pumping for fixative delivery.
    • To provide guidance on preparing brain tissue for histological analysis.

    Main Methods:

    • Anesthetize the animal deeply.
    • Insert a cannula into the heart or ascending aorta.

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    Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

    Whole Animal Perfusion Fixation for Rodents
    08:53

    Whole Animal Perfusion Fixation for Rodents

    Published on: July 30, 2012

    Free-floating Immunostaining of Mouse Brains
    07:58

    Free-floating Immunostaining of Mouse Brains

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    Preparation of Non-human Primate Brain Tissue for Pre-embedding Immunohistochemistry and Electron Microscopy
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  • Flush blood with saline, followed by perfusion with a fixative solution.

    • Main Results:

    • Successfully delivered fixative throughout the brain via cardiac perfusion.
    • Hardened brain tissue suitable for sectioning and histological analysis.
    • Demonstrated a method applicable to rat brains with potential for other species.

    Conclusions:

    • The described perfusion method effectively prepares brain tissue for histological examination.
    • This technique is essential for experiments requiring precise localization and detailed tissue analysis.
    • Understanding fixative properties is critical for optimizing downstream staining protocols.