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Methacarn

Methacarn

Formula

MaterialAmount
Methanol, absolute60mL
Acetic acid, glacial10mL
Chloroform30mL

Description

Methacarn is Carnoy’s fluid in which methanol replaces the ethanol. This causes less shrinkage of the tissue so that morphological preservation is superior to Carnoy. It also preserves antigenic sites more effectively than does Carnoy or other ethanol fixatives. It has been recommended for studies with DNA and RNA.

Time

4 hours or longer.

Aftertreatment

Transfer to absolute ethanol.

Safety Note

Prior to handling any chemical, consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for proper handling and safety precautions.

References

  1. Puchtler, H., Sweat Waldrop, F., Meloan, S.N., Terry, M.S. and Conner, H.M. (1970)
    Methacarn (methanol-Carnoy) fixation
    Journal of Histochemistry and Cell Biology, v. 21, N° 2., June 1970.