Postembedding adjuvants in routine microtomy of paraffin-processed tissues

Area of Science:

• Histology and Pathology
• Biomedical Research

Background:

• Paraffin embedding is a standard technique in tissue processing.
• Achieving high-quality tissue sections can be challenging, especially with difficult tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of various soaking solutions in improving paraffin-embedded tissue block sectioning.
• To identify simple, cost-effective methods for enhancing histological slide quality.

Main Methods:

• Paraffin-processed human autopsy tissue blocks were soaked in different solutions (ethyl alcohol-glycerol, glycerol-aniline, phenol, Photo-flo, ammonium hydroxide) or water.
• Soaking was performed at 0–4°C for 2–4 hours.
• Sections were evaluated for ease of ribboning and overall slide quality.

Main Results:

• Soaking in ammonium hydroxide, ethyl alcohol-glycerol, glycerol-aniline, phenol, and Photo-flo solutions improved ribboning and slide quality compared to water.
• 10% aqueous ammonium hydroxide was particularly effective.
• No sacrifice in tissue adhesion, staining qualities, or cellular detail was observed.

Conclusions:

• Post-embedding soaking of paraffin blocks with specific adjuvants, especially ammonium hydroxide, is a simple and inexpensive method to improve section quality.
• This technique is beneficial for both routine and refractory paraffin-embedded tissues.
• Enhanced section quality can be achieved without compromising critical histological features.