Pulp Chemicals
(6)
Paper Chemicals
(27)
Fixatives are needed to preserve cells and tissues in a reproducible and life-like manner. An ideal fixative should:
1.Preserve the tissue and cells without any shrinking or swelling and without distorting or dissolving cellular constituents.
2.Prevent putrefaction by bacteria and prevent autolysis by cathepsin containing cells.
3.Stabilize and protect tissues and cells against the detrimental effects of subsequent processing and staining procedures.
To achieve it, tissue blocks, tissue sections, cell cultures or smears are either immersed in a fixative fluid, or in cases where whole animal systems are studied, the animal is perfused with fixative via its circulatory system. In the case of cells in culture, cell preparations are either submerged in fixative or simply air-dried. Fixatives stabilize cells and tissues thereby protecting them from the rigors of subsequent processing and staining techniques. No fixative meets all of the above criteria and some compromise is necessary. The choice of fixative will depend upon the type of specimen and the components to be demonstrated.
