Comparative Evaluation of Clove, Olive and Groundnut Oil's Clearing Ability in Tissue Processing

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Clearing agents are vital in tissue processing to remove dehydrating agent at the same time be soluble in the impregnating media to be use for final impregnation stage. Xylene is one of the most commonly used clearing agents in Histopathology Laboratory despite its associated health hazards as well as flammable nature. Aim: This study was aimed at evaluating clearing ability of Three (3) natural oils namely Clove Oil, Olive Oil and Groundnut Oil in comparison with Xylene cleared tissues as control. Methods: The three natural oils alongside xylene were used to clear tissues of kidney, liver and heart of Wistar rats after which thin paraffin sections were obtained and stained using Haematoxylin and Eosin staining method for histological examination. Photomicrographs of the stained sections were taken for comparison with the xylene cleared tissues as control. Results: Stained sections that are cleared with natural oils revealed staining pattern with normal nuclear and cytoplasmic features. Out of the three oils used, groundnut oil was superior in its clearing ability as it maintained good cellular architecture with a high-quality staining pattern. Conclusion: The three (3) natural oils used in the study have ability to dealcoholized the tissues when compared with xylene-cleared control tissues, Therefore, we advocate for the need to further explore the use of natural oils as clearing agents in comparison with xylene considering their low cost, availability, nature-friendly effects and health safety