Carnoy's solution

Carnoy's solution is a fixative composed of 60% ethanol, 30% chloroform and 10% glacial acetic acid.^[1][2]

Carnoy's Solution is composed of:^[3]

• 1 g of ferric chloride (FeCl₃) dissolved in 24 mL of absolute alcohol
• 12 mL of chloroform
• 4 mL of glacial acetic acid

This is the same proportion by volume as the previous formula, with the addition of ferric chloride.

Uses

Some of the uses of Carnoy's solution are:

• Enhancing lymph node detection during dissection of cadavers.^[4]
• Immunohistochemical fixation and detection of NMDA receptors within the murine hippocampus.^[5]
• Applied directly following enucleation for the treatment of keratocystic odontogenic tumors.^[6][7][8]
• Direct application following enucleation (Cuba) for certain kinds of unicystic ameloblastomas.^[9] This appears to decrease the likelihood of recurrence over enucleation alone.^[10] Protein coagulation is thought to limit uptake of these toxic materials by surrounding tissues, however it is this fact that limits its usefulness as a treatment agent in general.^[3]
• As a fixative for pap smear samples.^[11]
• As a fixative agent for both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in various tissues.^[12]
• As a fixative agent to preserve mucus, useful for tissue preparation before staining with periodic acid-Schiff base.^[13]

References

1. "MSDS :: Carnoy's Solution (Fixative)". Retrieved 13 Jan 2009.
2. Carnoy J. B. (1887). "Appendice Les Globule Polaires de L'Ascaris Clavata". La Cellule RECUEIL DE CYTOLOGIE ET D'HISTOLOGIE GÉNÉRALE 3: 276.
3. Marx, Robert E.; Stern, Diane (2003). Oral and maxillofacial pathology: a rationale for diagnosis and treatment. Chicago: Quintessence. p. 684. ISBN 0-86715-390-3.
4. Luz DA, Ribeiro U, Chassot C, Collet E Silva Fde S, Cecconello I, Corbett CE (December 2008). "Carnoy's solution enhances lymph node detection: an anatomical dissection study in cadavers". Histopathology 53 (6): 740–2. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2559.2008.03148.x. PMID 19076686.
5. Yoneyama M, Kitayama T, Taniura H, Yoneda Y (August 2003). "Immersion fixation with Carnoy solution for conventional immunohistochemical detection of particular N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits in murine hippocampus". J. Neurosci. Res. 73 (3): 416–26. doi:10.1002/jnr.10622. PMID 12868075.
6. Madras J, Lapointe H (March 2008). "Keratocystic odontogenic tumour: reclassification of the odontogenic keratocyst from cyst to tumour". J Can Dent Assoc 74 (2): 165–165h. PMID 18353202.
7. "Odontogenic Keratocyst: The Northwestern USA Experience". Retrieved 14 Jan 2009.
8. "Use of Carnoy's Solution in management of odontogenic keratocysts". Retrieved 14 Jan 2009.
9. Lee PK, Samman N, Ng IO (April 2004). "Unicystic ameloblastoma--use of Carnoy's solution after enucleation". Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 33 (3): 263–7. doi:10.1006/ijom.2003.0496. PMID 15290793.
10. Lau SL, Samman N (August 2006). "Recurrence related to treatment modalities of unicystic ameloblastoma: a systematic review". Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 35 (8): 681–90. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2006.02.016. PMID 16782308.
11. Shamsi M, Abdali K, Montazer NR, Kumar PV, Tabatabaee HR (2008). "Comparison of Carnoy's solution and 96% ethyl alcohol fixation in bloody Pap smears". Acta Cytol. 52 (2): 187–90. doi:10.1159/000325477. PMID 18499991.
12. Miething F, Hering S, Hanschke B, Dressler J (March 2006). "Effect of fixation to the degradation of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in different tissues". J. Histochem. Cytochem. 54 (3): 371–4. doi:10.1369/jhc.5B6726.2005. PMID 16260588.
13. "Stains File: Carnoy's Fluid". Retrieved 25 Oct 2009.