What is the best fixative for glycogen demonstration?

Prepare for the Histotechnologist Certification Exam with our comprehensive study material. Use flashcards, detailed explanations, and intuitive multiple-choice questions. Boost your test readiness and achieve certification success!

Multiple Choice

What is the best fixative for glycogen demonstration?

Explanation:
Glycogen is water-soluble, so it’s lost when tissue is fixed with aqueous fixatives. To visualize glycogen with histochemical staining, you want a fixative that preserves carbohydrates by dehydrating and precipitating them rather than dissolving them. Absolute alcohol does exactly that: it fixes by dehydration and precipitates glycogen, keeping it in the tissue for accurate demonstration after staining. The other fixatives listed contain water or are less effective at preserving glycogen, so they can result in loss of glycogen during processing.

Glycogen is water-soluble, so it’s lost when tissue is fixed with aqueous fixatives. To visualize glycogen with histochemical staining, you want a fixative that preserves carbohydrates by dehydrating and precipitating them rather than dissolving them. Absolute alcohol does exactly that: it fixes by dehydration and precipitates glycogen, keeping it in the tissue for accurate demonstration after staining. The other fixatives listed contain water or are less effective at preserving glycogen, so they can result in loss of glycogen during processing.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy