Which is a non additive fixative?

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Multiple Choice

Which is a non additive fixative?

Explanation:
Non-additive fixatives preserve tissue mainly by precipitating or coagulating proteins without introducing new chemical components into the tissue. Ethyl alcohol fixes by dehydration and protein precipitation, so it does not add a fixative constituent to the tissue that remains bound during processing. That’s why it’s considered non-additive. In contrast, fixatives that introduce additional chemicals or elements into the tissue—such as picric acid in Bouin’s solution, heavy metals like osmium in osmium tetroxide, or aldehydes in formalin that form cross-links—are additive fixatives. They modify the tissue not just by fixing but by adding or integrating external chemicals into the tissue structure.

Non-additive fixatives preserve tissue mainly by precipitating or coagulating proteins without introducing new chemical components into the tissue. Ethyl alcohol fixes by dehydration and protein precipitation, so it does not add a fixative constituent to the tissue that remains bound during processing. That’s why it’s considered non-additive.

In contrast, fixatives that introduce additional chemicals or elements into the tissue—such as picric acid in Bouin’s solution, heavy metals like osmium in osmium tetroxide, or aldehydes in formalin that form cross-links—are additive fixatives. They modify the tissue not just by fixing but by adding or integrating external chemicals into the tissue structure.

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