在组织切片过程中一些组织内含有骨质或钙化灶时,含钙的组织不宜直接用石蜡包埋切片,这是因为钙和石蜡之间的密度不同,较难切出完整的切片,对含钙组织最好固定之后,再进行脱钙或二者同时进行,然后进行下游操作如脱水、透明、浸蜡、包埋、切片。用于脱钙的试剂很多,脱钙剂包括有机酸、无机酸、乙二胺四乙酸 (EDTA) 以及电解法脱钙,在有机酸中,甲酸、乙酸比较适合于骨髓组织脱钙,甲酸脱钙液是一种使用范围广泛的脱钙剂,但是该法脱钙速度太慢,不适合密皮质骨的脱钙。
甲酸脱钙液主要由甲酸、福尔马林等组成,其优点:①对细胞核染色结果较好;②兼具脱钙和组织固定的作用;③适用于小块组织和牙齿的脱钙;其缺点:①脱钙速度比较慢,不适合常规标本脱钙使用;②不适合密皮质骨脱钙使用;③脱钙后需要硫酸钠溶液进行碱处理。该试剂仅用于科研领域,不适用于临床诊断或其他用途。
自备材料:
1、PBS、蒸馏水、5% 硫酸钠溶液
2、加热装置或微波炉、脱钙专用容器 (玻璃)
操作步骤 (仅供参考):
1、骨组织脱钙时,取材不易过厚,一般大约 5mm。
2、组织固定后,用 PBS 清洗 3 次,每次 20min。
3、组织用蒸馏水清洗 3 次,每次 20min。
4、组织转移至 20~30 倍体积的甲酸脱钙液中,脱钙 3~10 天或更长时间;如有必要,更换新的甲酸脱钙液继续脱钙直至终点,多数组织脱钙 1 周即可。
5、用蒸馏水冲洗数次。
6、组织立即入 5% 硫酸钠溶液进行碱处理。
7、充分流水冲洗 18h 以上,常规脱水、包埋。
注意事项:
1、厚度 5mm 的骨组织块脱钙时间一般脱钙 3~10 天即可。
2、脱钙应彻底,防止脱钙不足或过度,脱钙程度应控制在不影响组织切片的同时尽量缩短脱钙时间,以免脱钙过长引起组织损害。
3、骨组织脱钙应先固定后脱钙或脱钙固定同时进行,不应先脱钙后固定,以便减少组织的损伤程度。
4、每隔一段时间检测一次脱钙程度,脱钙过度会增加组织的损伤程度,影响染色结果。
5、为了您的安全和健康,请穿实验服并戴一次性手套操作。
附录:
脱钙终点的测定 (物理法):采用针刺、手掐、钳夹等方法,当骨组织变软或针刺时没有阻力感即可终止脱钙;物理检测法会对组织结构有一定的损害,尽量避免用力过大或反复检测。
During tissue sectioning, tissues containing bone or calcified lesions cannot be directly embedded in paraffin for sectioning. Due to the density difference between calcium and paraffin, intact sections are difficult to obtain. For calcium-containing tissues, decalcification should be carried out after fixation or simultaneously with fixation, followed by subsequent procedures including dehydration, clearing, wax infiltration, embedding and sectioning.There are various decalcifying reagents available, such as organic acids, inorganic acids, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and electrolytic decalcification methods. Among organic acids, formic acid and acetic acid are suitable for decalcification of bone marrow tissue. Formic Acid Decalcification Solution is a widely used decalcifier; however, its decalcification rate is relatively slow, so it is not applicable to dense cortical bone decalcification.
Formic Acid Decalcification Solution is mainly composed of formic acid and formalin,Advantages:① It delivers excellent nuclear staining effect;② It integrates decalcification and tissue fixation functions;③ It is suitable for decalcification of small tissue specimens and teeth.Disadvantages:① Slow decalcification speed, not recommended for routine specimen decalcification;② Not fit for dense cortical bone decalcification;③ Alkaline treatment with sodium sulfate solution is required after decalcification.
User-Supplied Materials:
1. PBS buffer, distilled water, 5% sodium sulfate solution
2. Heating device or microwave oven, dedicated glass containers for decalcification
Operating Procedures (For Reference Only):
1. Do not prepare overly thick bone tissue samples for decalcification; the recommended thickness is approximately 5 mm.
2. After tissue fixation, rinse the sample with PBS 3 times for 20 minutes each time.
3. Wash the tissue with distilled water 3 times for 20 minutes each time.
4. Immerse the tissue in Formic Acid Decalcification Solution at a volume ratio of 1:20~1:30 for decalcification over 3 to 10 days or longer. Replace with fresh decalcification solution if needed until the decalcification endpoint is reached. Most tissues finish decalcification within one week.
5. Rinse the tissue thoroughly with distilled water several times.
6. Immediately place the tissue into 5% sodium sulfate solution for alkaline neutralization treatment.
7. Flush the sample with running water for no less than 18 hours, then perform standard dehydration and embedding.
Precautions:
1. A 5 mm-thick bone tissue block generally completes decalcification within 3 to 10 days.
2. Ensure thorough decalcification to avoid insufficient or excessive treatment. Optimize decalcification duration to guarantee qualified sectioning while minimizing tissue damage caused by prolonged treatment.
3. Bone tissue shall be fixed prior to decalcification, or fixation and decalcification may be performed concurrently. Decalcification before fixation is forbidden to reduce tissue damage.
4. Check decalcification progress regularly. Over-decalcification will aggravate tissue damage and compromise staining results.
5. Wear a lab coat and disposable gloves during operation to ensure personal safety and health.
Appendix:
Determination of Decalcification Endpoint (Physical Method):Prick, pinch or clamp the tissue manually. Terminate decalcification once the bone tissue softens or no resistance is felt during needle puncture. This physical inspection may impair tissue architecture, so avoid excessive force or repeated testing.