Which type of fixatives are organic compounds such as acetone and the alcohols that act on tissue without chemically binding to it?

• A. Nonadditive fixatives
• B. Coagulant fixatives
• C. Noncoagulant fixatives
• D. Hollande solution

Answer: (A)

Acetone and alcohols work by dissolving water and lipids and causing proteins to precipitate without forming new chemical bonds to the tissue. That means they don’t introduce foreign chemicals that bind to tissue components, so they’re classified as nonadditive fixatives. This type fixes primarily through dehydration and protein precipitation, preserving morphology quickly but often at the cost of lipid extraction and potential shrinkage. In contrast, fixatives that bind to tissue or leave chemical residues (additive or cross-linking fixatives) alter tissue chemistry by forming bonds or adding components.