Marked chatter in an H&E stained section, especially at the tissue edges, is most likely due to which?

• A. Overdehydration of the tissue
• B. Underhydration of the tissue
• C. Overfixation
• D. Prolonged staining

Answer: (A)

Chatter on a microtomy surface happens when the tissue becomes too brittle to slice smoothly. When tissue is overdehydrated, water is removed beyond what the tissue can tolerate, making it very hard and rigid. That brittleness makes the blade skip or vibrate as it cuts, creating the fine ridges that are especially noticeable at the edges where cutting forces are concentrated. In this state, the section resists smooth slicing and shows pronounced chatter along the tissue margins.

Underhydration leaves tissue too moist and less resistant, which tends to cause tearing or smearing rather than the characteristic wave-like surface of chatter. Overfixation can also stiffen tissue, but its drawbacks are more about staining penetration and morphology changes than the specific edge chatter seen with overdehydration. Prolonged staining doesn’t impact the physical cutting properties of the tissue. To reduce chatter, avoid excessive dehydration and ensure proper paraffin infiltration.