Which practice helps prevent tissue autolysis during specimen handling?

• A. Place tissue in fixative promptly
• B. Air-dry prior to fixation
• C. Stain before fixation
• D. Use cold water rinse after fixation

Answer: (A)

Placing tissue in fixative promptly is the key idea here. Fixation quickly halts autolysis by inactivating endogenous enzymes and cross-linking proteins, which stabilizes cellular and tissue structures so they don’t degrade during handling. If fixation is delayed, enzymes continue to digest cellular components, leading to poor morphology and artifacts.

Think about why the other options don’t provide the same protection: air-drying before fixation leaves tissue unfixed, giving enzymes free rein to cause autolysis and structural damage. Staining prior to fixation is inappropriate because staining procedures assume fixed, preserved tissue and won’t stop enzymatic activity during the critical early handling period. A cold water rinse after fixation may help remove excess fixative, but it does not prevent the enzymatic processes that begin before fixation or after fixation has not yet fully stabilized the tissue.