title: Replacing xylene with n-heptane for paraffin embedding.
abstract: In standard histological technique, aromatic solvents such as xylene and toluene are used as clearing agents between ethanol dehydration and paraffin embedding. In addition, these solvents are used for de-waxing paraffin sections. Unfortunately, these solvents are harmful and therefore adequate substitutes would be useful. We suggest the use of n-heptane as a convenient substitute for xylene. Paraffin sections of rat tissues processed with n-heptane and stained with hematoxylin-eosin or Masson's trichrome showed proper embedment, well preserved morphology and excellent staining.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Autonomous University of Madrid, Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Stockert
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: López-Arias
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Del Castillo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blázquez-Castro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006536:Heptanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010232:Paraffin / Q000737:chemistry; D016612:Paraffin Embedding / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014992:Xylenes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006536:Heptanes; D014992:Xylenes; C028618:n-heptane; D010232:Paraffin