title: A novel non-toxic xylene substitute (SBO) for histology.
abstract: Xylene has been generally used as a clearing and deparaffinizing agent in histology. Because of the potential toxic and flammable nature of xylene, its substitutes have been introduced into some laboratories. In this study, we introduced a novel, non-toxic xylene substitute (SBO), which was generated through a mixture of 86% of white oil No.2 and 14% of N-heptane. SBO had a high boiling point (188°C) and flash point (144°C) coupled with a scentless and decreased volatility. To compare the effectiveness of SBO and xylene in histology, a wide range of tissue samples from rats and human beings were processed in parallel in SBO and xylene, subjected to various staining procedures. Similar to the xylene-processed paraffin blocks, the SBO-processed counterparts were easy to section without any evidence of cell shrinkage. Assessment of the SBO-treated sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin revealed a good maintenance of cell morphology and structure, and a clear definition of the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Moreover, comparable good results were achieved between the SBO- and xylene-processed tissues in other histochemical and immunohistochemical stainings. Six-month clinical applications at one department of pathology supported the potentials of SBO as a xylene substitute. In conclusion, we suggest that SBO is a safe and efficient substitute of xylene and may probably replace xylene without losing valuable diagnostic information.
authors: The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650032, PR China.
authors: Wang
authors: W
authors: Kunhua
authors: Fan
authors: F
authors: Chuming
authors: Lai
authors: L
authors: Tao
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Yanmei
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Xin
authors: Zhang
authors: Z
authors: Xiaoming
authors: Guo
authors: G
authors: Xuezhong
authors: Lai
authors: L
authors: Xun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006653:Histology; D006801:Humans; D019995:Laboratory Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D010336:Pathology; D051381:Rats; D014992:Xylenes
chemical_list: D019995:Laboratory Chemicals; D014992:Xylenes
keywords: SBO; clearing agent; histology; toxicity; xylene
references: Hepatology. 2000 Aug;32(2):200-4
references: 10915724
references: J Histochem Cytochem. 1987 Nov;35(11):1329-38
references: 3309048
references: Biotech Histochem. 2010 Aug;85(4):231-40
references: 20629612
references: Ir J Med Sci. 1976 Apr;145(4):127-34
references: 58851
references: Exp Anim. 2007 Jan;56(1):35-42
references: 17283889
references: J Clin Pathol. 1981 Jan;34(1):103-5
references: 7007442
references: Scand J Work Environ Health. 1978 Sep;4(3):204-11
references: 705287
references: Cancer Res. 2001 Mar 1;61(5):2239-49
references: 11280793
references: Toxicol In Vitro. 2007 Aug;21(5):782-8
references: 17321102
references: Acta Pol Pharm. 2002 Nov-Dec;59(6):427-32
references: 12669764
references: Anat Sci Int. 2009 Sep;84(3):129-40
references: 19242780
references: J Histochem Cytochem. 2002 Nov;50(11):1469-74
references: 12417612
references: Toxicol Ind Health. 2007 Mar;23(2):115-20
references: 18203563
references: J Clin Pathol. 1989 Aug;42(8):881-4
references: 2475531
references: Toxicol Ind Health. 2009 Aug;25(7):455-61
references: 19648215
references: Cancer Res. 1990 Jun 1;50(11):3400-7
references: 1692259
references: Br J Dermatol. 1976 Dec;95(6):599-601
references: 1009005
references: Neurotoxicol Teratol. 1995 May-Jun;17(3):341-9
references: 7623741
references: Ann Diagn Pathol. 2009 Aug;13(4):246-56
references: 19608083
references: Histochem Cell Biol. 1995 Apr;103(4):263-9
references: 7648401
references: Arch Toxicol. 2005 May;79(5):294-301
references: 15902427
references: APMIS. 1992 Sep;100(9):827-31
references: 1389101