Muscle biopsy samples for histochemical processing: alterations induced by storage.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Muscle Biology
• Histology

Background:

• Proper preservation of skeletal muscle tissue is crucial for accurate morphological and morphometric analysis in veterinary diagnostics.
• Understanding the impact of cold storage duration on canine muscle tissue is essential for reliable research and clinical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of cold storage at 0°C on the morphology and morphometry of canine skeletal muscle over a 30-hour period.
• To determine the optimal storage time for maintaining tissue integrity for cytochemical, histochemical, and morphometric evaluations.

Main Methods:

• Skeletal muscle samples from two healthy dogs were collected and stored in ice at 0°C.
• Samples were analyzed at various time points up to 30 hours for cytochemical and histochemical properties.
• Morphometric analysis was performed to assess fiber diameter changes.

Main Results:

• Cytochemical and histochemical properties remained largely unchanged up to 18 hours of cold storage.
• Tissue stored for up to 30 hours was considered satisfactory, though staining intensity showed some decline and unevenness.
• A statistically significant increase (21-25%) in type I and type II fiber diameter was observed in samples stored for 6 hours or longer.

Conclusions:

• Canine skeletal muscle can be stored at 0°C for up to 18-30 hours for general histological assessment with acceptable results.
• Morphometric analysis of canine skeletal muscle is compromised after 6 hours of cold storage at 0°C due to significant fiber swelling.