title: Tissue fixation with phenol-formaldehyde for routine histopathology.
abstract: The addition of 2% phenol had a marked accelerating effect on neutral buffered 4% formaldehyde as a fixative. Histopathological material fixed in buffered phenol-formaldehyde (pH 7.0) and rapidly advanced to paraffin in an enclosed tissue-processor showed improved nuclear and cytoplasmic detail, reduced shrinkage and distortion, and an absence of formalin pigment. Good results were obtained in less time when sequential fixation in phenol-formaldehyde buffered to pH 7.0 and pH 5.5 was carried out at an elevated temperature (40 degrees C) in the enclosed tissue-processor. Standard histological stains and immunoperoxidase methods worked well. In resin-embedded tissue, buffered phenol-formaldehyde (pH 7.0) gave satisfactory ultrastructural results. The penetration rate of buffered phenol-formaldehyde (pH 7.0) in gelatin models did not differ from that of neutral buffered 4% formaldehyde. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed enhanced protein polymer formation with buffered phenol-formaldehyde (pH 7.0) as compared with neutral buffered 4% formaldehyde. Protein polymer formation increased in response to increased time and temperature. Cells fixed in suspension in buffered phenol-formaldehyde (pH 7.0) and neutral buffered 4% formaldehyde showed similar volume changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hopwood
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Slidders
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Yeaman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D019800:Phenol; D010636:Phenols
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives; D010636:Phenols; D005557:Formaldehyde; D019800:Phenol