Histology service - frequently used fixatives
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Tellyesniczky/Fekete (Telly's)
An excellent all purpose fixative for general procedures. Quick penetrating, therefore excellent for fixation of membrane-bound organs such as testes. Staining properties with hematoxylin and eosin are good. Recommended for preservation of glycogen. Lyses RBCs. May preserve cytoplasmic and nuclear antigens well.
- 70% ETOH 100ml
- Glacial Acetic Acid 5ml
- 37-40% Formalin 10ml
Bouin's (Modified)
Excellent general purpose fixative. Also good for many special techniques. Quick penetration, with delicate detail well preserved. Can act as a mordant in many stains and enhances staining quality overall. Good for decalcification of bones. Retains beta cells of pancreas and other substances subject to loss. Surface layer of cells may be distorted and show hyperchromasia. May preserve cytoplasmic and nuclear antigens well. The Jackson Laboratory's Histology Services purchases its Bouin's from Fisher Scientific for quality control.
- Saturated Aqueous Picric Acid 85ml
- Glacial Acetic Acid 5ml
- 37-40% Formalin 10ml
4% PFA in PB
Most commonly used for tissue prepared for immunohistochemistry (IHC). Phosphate buffer (PB) and fixative are made fresh in small batches as needed for best results.
- 16% Specially Distilled PFA (EM Grade) 25ml
- 0.2M PB 50ml
- Distilled water 25ml
10% Neutral Buffered Formalin
Universal fixative - used routinely in many research and industry settings for all types of animals tissues, including human and mouse. The Jackson Laboratory's Histology Service purchases its 10% NBF from LabChem, Inc. for quality control.
- 37-40% Formalin 100ml
- Distilled Water 900ml
- Sodium Phosphate-Monobasic 4gm
- Sodium Phosphate-Dibasic 6.5gm
