Carnoy's solution

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

Carnoy's solution is also the name of a different fixation composed of ethanol and glacial acetic acid (3:1).[3][4][5]

The invention of Carnoy's solution is attributed to Jean-Baptiste Carnoy, a pioneering 19th century cytologist.[6]

Uses

Some of the uses of Carnoy's solution are:

• Enhancing lymph node detection during dissection of cadavers.[7]
• Immunohistochemical fixation and detection of NMDA receptors within the murine hippocampus.[8]
• Applied directly following enucleation for the treatment of odontogenic keratocysts.[9][10][11]
• Direct application following enucleation (Cuba) for certain kinds of unicystic ameloblastomas.[12] This appears to decrease the likelihood of recurrence over enucleation alone.[13] 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.[14]
• As a fixative for pap smear samples.[15]
• As a fixative agent for both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in various tissues.[16]
• As a fixative agent to preserve mucus, useful for tissue preparation before staining with periodic acid-Schiff base.[17]

References

1. "MSDS :: Carnoy's Solution (Fixative)". Archived from the original on 2009-03-27. 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. Tjio JH, Whang J (1962). "Chromosome Preparatons of Bone Marrow Cells without PriorIn VitroCulture orIn VivoColchicine Administration". Stain Technology. 37: 17–20. doi:10.3109/10520296209114563. PMID 13921436.
4. Mazia D, Brewer PA, Alfert MA (1953). "The Cytochemical Staining and Measurement of Protein with Mercuric Bromphenol Blue". The Biological Bulletin. 104 (1): 57–67. doi:10.2307/1538691. JSTOR 1538691.
5. Utevsky S, Kovalenko N, Doroshenko K, Petrauskienė L, Klymenko V (2009). "Chromosome numbers for three species of medicinal leeches (Hirudo spp.)". Systematic Parasitology. 74 (2): 95–102. doi:10.1007/s11230-009-9198-2. PMID 19731093. S2CID 7947757.
6. Ireland, Robert; Yeung, Chuen Albert YeungChuen Albert (2020-04-23), Yeung, Chuen Albert (ed.), "Carnoy's solution", A Dictionary of Dentistry, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780191828621.001.0001, ISBN 978-0-19-182862-1, retrieved 2023-04-10
7. Luz DA, Ribeiro U, Chassot C, Collet E, Silva FS, 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. S2CID 19362456.
8. 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. S2CID 40884078.
9. 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.
10. "Odontogenic Keratocyst: The Northwestern USA Experience". Archived from the original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 14 Jan 2009.
11. "Use of Carnoy's Solution in management of odontogenic keratocysts". Archived from the original on 2009-05-17. Retrieved 14 Jan 2009.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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. S2CID 3370408.
16. 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.
17. "Stains File: Carnoy's Fluid". Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 25 Oct 2009.