zinc fixative (non formalin)

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From:Gayle Callis <uvsgc@msu.oscs.montana.edu>
To:histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
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Date:Thu, 12 Aug 1999 15:13:20 -0600
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A word of caution about zinc fixative (not to be confused with zinc formalin)
Here are original references on this fixative, developed by J Beckstead.

Nitta et al used alk phos substrate.  Endogenous peroxidase cannot be 
quenched, I couldn't do it, others have reported the same.  Some people
have had problems with fixation times, pays to do a fixation time study,
some did 8 hours or less, and others went longer, recommended is 24 hours,
up to 3 days.  Because this was in a buffer, I stored mine in a refrigerator
and preferred to call it ZincTRIS fixative, to not confuse it it with zinc
formalin.  A nice fixative, but you cannot decalcify bone, swells terribly,
It tends to cause more friable sections, just soak them a bit after trimming
on ice water.  

H. Nitta et al Cell Vision 1997 4:73-80  Improved in situ 
immunodetection of leukocytes on paraffin embedded mouse spleen

J Histochem Cytochem 42:1127-1134, 1994  J.H.Beckstead A simple technique for
preservation of fixation sensitive antigens in paraffin embedded
tissues

J Histochem Cytochem 43:345 JH Beckstead  Same title (addendum)

Gayle Callis



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