Microwave oven-induced decalcification at varying temperatures: A comparative study of two decalcifying fluids

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of decalcifying fluid types on bone tissue architecture and its staining properties following decalcification at varying temperatures. A decalcification methodology using Golding and Stewards (GS) fluid, and Jenkings fluid (JK), and a modern household microwave oven to accelerate the decalcification rate of bone tissue samples, was adopted for microscopic investigations at room temperature, 30⁰C, 40⁰C, and 50⁰C respectively. Bone biopsy was obtained from a rabbit’s limb and fixed immediately for 24hrs in 10% formalin. The result showed that micrographs from bone tissue sections decalcified with 5% GS presented excellent histological architecture when compared with those decalcified with 5% JK at 30⁰C while 5% JK presented good  histological architecture when compared with those decalcified with 5% GS at 40⁰C.Severe cytoarchitectural distortion was observed for bone tissues decalcified with 5% GS at 50⁰C, while bone tissues decalcified with 5% JK at 50⁰C,  presented cyto-architectural distortions that were however, not as severe as those of 5% GS at 50⁰C. Our findings suggest therefore, that decalcification with 5% GS at 30⁰C, comparatively gives optimal histological results and preserves the tissues’ best staining properties.

Key words: microwave oven, temperatures, bone decalcification, Histology,