Which property does fixation NOT aim to achieve in tissue specimens?

Fixation in tissue specimens serves several critical purposes to ensure that the samples can be accurately analyzed and visualized under a microscope. The primary goals of fixation are to maintain cellular morphology, preserve nucleic acid integrity, and prevent microbial growth.

Maintaining cellular morphology involves stabilizing the structure of cells and tissues, so that they retain their original shape and organization during the preparation and staining processes. This is essential for accurate diagnosis and study of the tissue.

Preserving nucleic acid integrity is another key function of fixation, as it helps to maintain the structure of DNA and RNA within cells. This preservation is vital for techniques such as in situ hybridization and PCR, which require intact nucleic acids for analysis.

Preventing microbial growth is also a crucial aspect of fixation. By quickly fixing the tissue, any biological degradation or contamination by bacteria or fungi can be minimized, ensuring that the sample remains viable for examination.

The enhancement of staining properties is not a direct aim of fixation. While it may lead to more effective staining results indirectly by preserving cellular structure, fixation does not explicitly enhance the staining properties of the tissue. Staining techniques and solutions are typically selected based on the type of analysis being conducted, rather than being a primary goal of the fixation process itself.