Pages: (41-53 )
Abstract
Clearing is a critical stage in tissue processing, which is the removal of alcohol from the tissues with the use of chemical agents prior to embedding. The aim of the study is to evaluate the use of Kerosene and coconut oil mixture as an alternative clearing agent to xylene in tissue processing. A total number of ten (10) adult male Wistar rats averagely weighing between 120g-150g were purchased at the Animal Facility of Babcock University, Ogun State. All the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation after a mild exposure to an anesthesia. The liver, kidneys, and lungs were harvested and immediately fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for 72 hours before processing in automatic tissue processing machine (ATP). The samples were cleared using xylene as (control), kerosene, coconut oil, and mixtures of kerosene and coconut oil in ratio 2:1, 1:1 and 1:2 as the test groups. The tissue sections were stained using Iyiola-Avwioro's H&E staining technique. Section and staining quality were evaluated by direct microscopic observation and grading was scored using a five point grading scale with 1 being poor and 5 being excellent. [H1] This study showed that kerosene, xylene, C-K (1:2), C-K (1:1) when singly used produced excellent result with a total grade point twenty (20) in clearing kidney and liver tissues, followed by C-K (1:2) with a total grade point eighteen (18) while excellent sections were observed from lung tissues cleared in all the clearing agents. Kerosene, mixture of Coconut oil and Kerosene in ratio (1:2) is recommended as suitable clearing agents and less toxic to human use.
[H1]Corrected
Keywords: Clearing agents, Tissue processing, Xylene substitute, Kerosene, Coconut oil,