Comparative histologic assessment of fetal cadaveric tissue preserved using the modified saturated salt solution

Abstract

Introduction

The modified saturated salt solution is currently used for embalming to improve the limitations of the existing saturated salt solution. However, the histological characteristics of cadaveric tissue embalmed with the modified saturated salt solution are unknown. Hence, the study examined the histological characteristics of cadaveric tissue embalmed with modified saturated salt solution, formaldehyde, and saturated salt solution.

Methods

A year-long experiment involved four groups of fetuses, each containing four, older than 28 weeks of gestational age. The first group was embalmed with 18–20% formaldehyde followed by immersion, the second group was embalmed with the modified saturated salt solution followed by immersion, the third group was embalmed with modified saturated salt solution and placed in a refrigerated chamber, and the fourth group was embalmed with saturated salt solution and immersed in the same solution. Fixation and staining were performed, and microscopy was followed. Experts compared the histological appearances of five tissues across four embalming groups using a checklist, and data was analysed using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's categorical tests.

Results

Modified saturated salt solution showed comparable results with formaldehyde and saturated salt solution, but modified saturated salt solution immersion showed higher quality results than modified saturated salt solution cold storage for most histology criteria. Furthermore, lung tissue is the most affected by the different fixatives for all criteria.

Conclusion

Modifying saturated salt solution has improved its ability to preserve fetal tissues, with the immersion technique proving promising for maintaining histological qualities.