DNA and RNA obtained from Bouin's fixed tissues.
BACKGROUND
The use in many countries of acid fixatives, such as Bouin's solution, has limited the use of archival tissue for molecular analysis. An acidic environment is one of the main causes of DNA degradation. Moreover, RNA extraction is difficult in these types of fixed tissues.


OBJECTIVE
To amplify DNA and RNA from Bouin's fixed tissues.


METHODS
DNA and RNA were extracted from 20 breast cancer samples that had been routinely fixed in Bouin's fixative. Amplification of several genes using primers that produced amplicons of different lengths was carried out using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for DNA (with and without restoration) and reverse transcription PCR for RNA.


RESULTS
The acid environment of Bouin's fixative damaged both DNA and RNA. However, amplification was successful when the amplicon length was reduced to about 80 bp for RNA and 100-200 bp for DNA, especially if submitted to DNA reconstruction procedures.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to recover and analyse DNA and RNA from Bouin's fixed and paraffin wax embedded tissues.
Bonin
S
S
Department of Clinical, Morphological and Technological Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
Petrera
F
F
Rosai
J
J
Stanta
G
G
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018070:Biological Specimen Banks; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D004249:DNA Damage; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005404:Fixatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D010851:Picrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D005404:Fixatives; D010851:Picrates; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D005557:Formaldehyde; C026239:Bouin's solution; D019342:Acetic Acid
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