Preparing Specimens of Bone and Teeth for Cutting by the Paraffin Method

1 January 1944

journal article
research article
Published by Taylor & Francis in Stain Technology

Vol. 19 (4) , 127-129
https://doi.org/10.3109/10520294409105843

Abstract

A method of preparing bone or teeth for sectioning is described which involves the following steps: 48 hr. in 1:10 formalin; 24 hr. in 70% alcohol; decalcification for several days in 10% HNO₃; rinsing and transferring to 2% potassium alum for 12 hr.; rinsing and treating with 5% NaHCO₃ (or Li₂CO₃) for 24 hr.; washing for 12-24 hr.; then passing through ascending grades of alcohol to xylene. In the case of developing teeth, a slightly different procedure is recommended: fixation in Heidenhain's Susa till hard tissue is decalcified; 24 hr. in 96% alcohol (with three changes); 24 hr. in absolute alcohol (with one change); clearing in xylene or chloroform, and embedding in paraffin.

Keywords

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:

A controllable modification of Mallory's trichromic staining method
The Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology, 1940
On the cutting of “difficult” tissues
The Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology, 1935