The use of potassium ferricyanide in neural fixation

Abstract

The present study suggests a mixture of buffered osmic acid and 1.5% potassium ferricyanide as a post-fixation to improve the fixation of neural tissue. This procedure results in an improved preservation of membranes as well as cytoplasm and cytoplasmic organelles. It is to be emphasized that the quality of the initial perfusion is the primary determinant of quality of the fixation, but the addition of 1.5% potassium ferricyanide to post-fixation fluid makes good fixation better and allows data to be gathered from otherwise unusable material.