What is the primary use of tetrahydrofuran in histopathology?

Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is primarily recognized in histopathology for its role as a dehydrating agent. In the preparation of tissue samples for processing and embedding, it is essential to remove water effectively from the tissues. THF has the advantageous property of mixing well with water and is able to facilitate the infiltration of embedding media. As a dehydrating agent, it enhances tissue preservation by helping to maintain the morphological details during further analysis.

While other solvents may be used in histopathology, THF's specific chemical properties make it particularly suitable for dehydration tasks, setting it apart from options like the general use of solvents, fixatives, or staining agents which serve different functions in tissue preparation and analysis processes.