Chelating Agents as Histological and Histochemical Decalcifiers

Abstract

The alterations caused by chelating agents (disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate) used as decalcifying solutions at pH 7.0, in histological and histochemical technics have been studied comparatively. They have been controlled by the staining with hematoxylin and eosin, Gomori's aldehyde fuchsin, periodic acid-Schiff, metachromasia, and alkaline phosphatase. Their effect on the tissues was similar to that of buffered acid decalcifying solutions, such as that of Greep, Fischer and Morse (equal parts of 2% formic acid and 20% sodium citrate). The use of 1% sodium diethylbarbiturate for 24 hr as a reactivating agent for alkaline phosphatase in the specimens treated with chelating agents is recommended.