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Published on: March 23, 2018
Wilhelm His Sr. and the development of paraffin embedding
Tim van der Lem1, Merijn de Bakker1, Gerhard Keuck2
1Institute of Biology, IBL, Sylvius Laboratorium, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333BE, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Der Pathologe
|July 8, 2021
Summary
Paraffin embedding, a key histopathology technique, was likely perfected by Wilhelm His, Sr. Replicating his protocol showed it needed modification for successful tissue infiltration and sectioning.
Area of Science:
- Histopathology
- Histology
- Embryology
Background:
- Paraffin embedding is a fundamental technique in diagnostic histopathology.
- Edwin Klebs experimented with paraffin wax but deemed it unsuitable due to poor tissue infiltration.
- Wilhelm His, Sr. is credited with developing paraffin embedding for sectioning embryos.
Purpose of the Study:
- To replicate Wilhelm His, Sr.'s paraffin embedding protocol.
- To verify if His's original protocol enabled successful infiltration embedding.
- To assess the quality of sections obtained using His's method.
Main Methods:
- Replication of Wilhelm His, Sr.'s 1868 paraffin embedding protocol.
- Histological sectioning of paraffin-embedded chicken embryos.
- Modification of His's protocol to achieve usable sections.
Main Results:
- His's original protocol, when replicated, failed to produce high-quality sections.
- Tissue disintegration occurred during sectioning due to inadequate wax infiltration.
- Modifications to His's protocol, involving re-embedding, were necessary for usable results.
Conclusions:
- Wilhelm His, Sr. likely discovered and perfected paraffin infiltration embedding.
- His's published protocol may have been incomplete, requiring unstated modifications.
- The study suggests His achieved successful paraffin embedding but did not fully document the process.
