Zenker’s Fluid
Formula
Stock Zenker’s base
| Material | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Mercuric chloride | 49.2 | g |
| Potassium dichromate | 20 | g |
| Sodium sulphate | 10 | g |
| Distilled water | 960 | mL |
Working Zenker’s solution
| Material | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock Zenker base | 48 | mL |
| Acetic acid, glacial | 2.5 | mL |
Make just before use.
Description
This is a good routine fixative giving excellent morphological preservation, although it is not used as much as it was in the past due to the mercuric chloride content.
It should be noted that the stock Zenker’s base solution is identical to that of the stock Helly’s base solution and is a fixative in its own right, giving good cytoplasmic preservation.
Time
Small, thin, pieces of tissue will be fixed in a few hours. Three millimetre thick slices will require overnight.
Aftertreatment
Wash well with running tap water to remove excess dichromate. Treat sections with the iodine thiosulphate sequence to remove mercury pigment.
Safety Note
Prior to handling any chemical, consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for proper handling and safety precautions.
References
- Gray, Peter. (1954)The Microtomist’s Formulary and Guide.
Originally published by: The Blakiston Co.
Republished by: Robert E. Krieger Publishing Co.
Citing:
Zenker, (1894)
Münchener medizinische Wochenschrift, Munich
Most reference texts contain a variant of this solution under the Zenker name, although the amount of each ingredient may be slightly different.
