DEHYDRATION

Process of removing
intercellular and
The solutions utilized are
extracellular water from the
called dehydrating agents
tissue following fixation and
prior to wax impregnation

DEHYDRATION Water is entirely removed

These dehydrating agents are
from the tissue and prepares
alcohols of various types that
the tissue to be enveloped in
are generally used in
a medium which is not
increasing strengths
miscible with water.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF AN IDEAL
DEHYDRATING SOLUTION

It should dehydrate rapidly

without producing It should not evaporate very It should be able dehydrate It should not harden tissues
considerable shrinkage or fast even fatty tissues excessively
distortion of tissues

It should not be toxic to the It should not be a fire

It should not remove stains
body hazard
 EXCESSIVE
DEHYDRATIO • Hard, brittle and shrunken tissue
N

• Prohibit the penetration of clearing agent

INCOMPLETE leaving the tissue soft and non-receptive to
infiltration
DEHYDRATING
AGENTS
 Routine, best, non-toxic and
ETHANOL cheap, for ELECTRON
MICROSCOPY specimens

Used for blood and tissue films

METHANOL and for smear preparation; toxic

Used in plant and animal micro-

BUTANOL techniques

ISOPROPANOL Used in microwave processing

Denatured alcohol
INDUSTRIAL
Ethanol + 1% methanol +
METHYLATED SPIRIT isopropyl alcohol
ACETONE

• Dehydrant and a coagulant secondary fixative

• Used for small pieces of tissues due to its extreme volatility and
inflammability
• Removes lipids from tissue during processing

ETHOXYEHTANOL

• Colorless, strongly hygroscopic

DIOXANE (1,4-DIETHYLENE DIOXIDE)

• Phased-out due to its toxicity and carcinogenicity; formed

peroxide may explode upon exposure to air

CELLOSOLVE

• Dissolves nitrocellulose but tends to decompose on exposure to

sunlight
• Tissue may be stored for months without distortion
 • Clear, viscous, hygroscopic polymers used to dehydrate
POLYETHYLENE and embed tissues labile to the solvents and heat of
GLYCOL paraffin wax method

TRIETHYL • Produces very little distortion and hardening of tissues

PHOSPHATE

TETRAHYDROFURA • Has an offensive and prolonged exposure may cause

N conjunctivitis
DEHYDRATES AND CLEARS
• Dioxane, tetrahydrofuran and tertiary butanol

DEHYDRATION INDICATOR
• Anhydrous copper sulfate

ADDITIVES TO DEHYDRATING AGENTS

• 4% phenol acts as softening agent for hard tissues such tendon, nail, dense fibrous
tissue, and keratin masses
• Glycerol-alcohol mixture

DEHYDRATING AGENT TO TISSUE RATIO- 10:1