Name a commonly used mounting media for histological slides.

Mounting media are vital in histology for preserving tissue morphology and enhancing the visibility of the specimen under a microscope. One of the commonly used mounting media is Permount or DPX. These mediums are designed to provide a clear, stable environment that protects the specimen and minimizes fading over time, ensuring that the histological details remain sharp and observable.

Permount is a synthetic resin that provides a permanent mount, ideal for slides that need to be archived for long periods. DPX (Distrene Plasticizer Xylene) is a histological mounting medium that also offers excellent clarity and preservation without compromising the integrity of the specimen. Both of these mounting agents allow for a refractive index similar to that of glass and provide excellent clarity, which is crucial for examining fine details in histological sections.

In contrast, glycerin is typically used in certain slide preparations but is less common for long-term storage as it can contribute to gathering moisture and may not provide the same level of clarity and stability over time. Methanol and acetone are not generally used as mounting media; rather, they serve as solvents for fixing or dehydrating tissue but do not serve the purpose of mounting a slide in histological work.