Which fixative provides maximum preservation of glycogen in tissue?

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Multiple Choice

Which fixative provides maximum preservation of glycogen in tissue?

Explanation:
Glycogen is water-soluble, so fixation must protect it from leaching out during processing. Alcohol-based fixatives are best for preserving glycogen because they dehydrate and precipitate cellular components, locking glycogen in place. The combination of picric acid with absolute ethanol is especially effective: the high concentration of ethanol rapidly dehydrates and fixes the tissue, while picric acid helps stabilize carbohydrate-rich areas and further reduces glycogen loss during subsequent processing. In contrast, aqueous fixatives like formalin and even 70% ethanol contain water that can dissolve glycogen, leading to poor preservation, and osmium tetroxide mainly fixes lipids rather than carbohydrates.

Glycogen is water-soluble, so fixation must protect it from leaching out during processing. Alcohol-based fixatives are best for preserving glycogen because they dehydrate and precipitate cellular components, locking glycogen in place. The combination of picric acid with absolute ethanol is especially effective: the high concentration of ethanol rapidly dehydrates and fixes the tissue, while picric acid helps stabilize carbohydrate-rich areas and further reduces glycogen loss during subsequent processing. In contrast, aqueous fixatives like formalin and even 70% ethanol contain water that can dissolve glycogen, leading to poor preservation, and osmium tetroxide mainly fixes lipids rather than carbohydrates.

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