Which condition is the most plausible cause of chatter in H&E prepared sections?

• A. Overdehydration of the tissue
• B. Underhydration of the tissue
• C. Overfixation
• D. Incorrect embedding timing

Answer: (A)

Chatter is a cutting artifact that shows up as fine, waviness-like lines on the cut face of a paraffin block. It happens when the tissue becomes too brittle or hard during sectioning, so the knife can’t slice cleanly and instead lifts or vibrates against the tissue.

Overdehydration makes tissue excessively dry and brittle by removing more water than needed. This brittleness makes the blade engage with the tissue in a way that promotes micro-vibrations and chatter marks as the section is cut. In contrast, underhydration leaves tissue too soft and gummy, leading to tearing or poor adhesion rather than the distinct chatter lines seen with over-dried tissue. While overfixation or embedding issues can also harden tissue and cause cutting problems, the most direct and common cause of chatter among the options is overdehydration.