Comparison of Different Fixation Methods for Combined Histological and Biomolecular Analysis of Fixed and Decalcified Bone Samples

  • The combination of histological and biomolecular analyses provides deep understanding of different biological processes and is of high interest for basic and applied research. However, the available analytical methods are still limited, especially when considering bone samples. This study compared different fixation media to identify a sufficient analytical method for the combination of histological, immuno-histological and biomolecular analyses of the same fixed, processed and paraffin embedded bone sample. Bone core biopsies of rats’ femurs were fixed in different media (RNAlater + formaldehyde (R + FFPE), methacarn (MFPE) or formaldehyde (FFPE)) for 1 week prior to decalcification by EDTA and further histological processing and paraffin embedding. Snap freezing (unfixed frozen tissue, UFT) and incubation in RNAlater were used as additional controls. After gaining the paraffin sections for histological and immunohistological analysis, the samples were deparaffined and RNA was isolated by a modified TRIZOL protocol. Subsequently, gene expression was evaluated using RT-qPCR. Comparable histo-morphological and immuno-histological results were evident in all paraffin embedded samples of MFPE, FFPE and R + FFPE. The isolated RNA in the group of MFPE showed a high concentration and high purity, which was comparable to the UFT and RNAlater groups. However, in the groups of FFPE and R + FFPE, the RNA quality and quantity were statistically significantly lower when compared to MFPE, UFT and RNAlater. RT-qPCR results showed a comparable outcome in the group of MFPE and UFT, whereas the groups of FFPE and R + FFPE did not result in a correctly amplified gene product. Sample fixation by means of methacarn is of high interest for clinical samples to allow a combination of histological, immunohistological and biomolecular analysis. The implementation of such evaluation method in clinical research may allow a deeper understanding of the processes of bone formation and regeneration.

Download full text files

Export metadata

Metadaten
Author:Sarah al- MaawiGND, Priscilia Yvonne ValenzuelaGND, Eva DohleGND, Anja HeselichORCiDGND, Robert SaderORCiDGND, Sharam Michael GhanaatiORCiDGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-751987
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/mps5040064
ISSN:2409-9279
Parent Title (English):Methods and protocols
Publisher:MDPI
Place of publication:Basel
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2022/07/21
Date of first Publication:2022/07/21
Publishing Institution:Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Release Date:2024/07/15
Tag:FFPE; RNA; biomolecular analysis; bone tissue; histology; methacarn
Volume:5
Issue:4, art. 64
Article Number:64
Page Number:15
First Page:1
Last Page:15
Note:
Gefördert durch den Open-Access-Publikationsfonds der Goethe-Universität
HeBIS-PPN:52089443X
Institutes:Medizin
Dewey Decimal Classification:6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
Sammlungen:Universitätspublikationen
Open-Access-Publikationsfonds:Medizin
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International