INTRODUCTION

Histologic methods involve the preparation of organs, tissues, or cells for microscopic analysis of constituent elements that have been exposed to particular chemistries or immunochemical staining procedures. Histologic methods have many goals, and are often used to evaluate native and processed therapeutic tissue-based products. For example, these methods can be used to establish the integrity of the tissue with regard to cellular content and extracellular constituents. Nuclear staining intensity and nuclear shape may be altered if tissue recovery or handling is compromised. Furthermore, extracellular structural and accessory components such as collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans can be specifically stained so their presence and location can be determined.