What is the function of a decornifying agent in histopathology?

In histopathology, the function of a decornifying agent is primarily to remove the keratin layer from tissue samples, thus facilitating better penetration and visualization of the underlying structures during examination. This is particularly important when dealing with skin or other keratinized tissues, as the presence of keratin can obscure important cellular details in histological sections. By using a decornifying agent, histopathologists can obtain clearer and more accurate representations of the tissue, which is critical for diagnostics.

Preserving cellular structure, fixing biological samples, and enhancing staining are important processes in histopathology, but they are not the primary function of a decornifying agent. Instead, decornifying agents specifically target keratin removal, allowing for a more detailed study of the underlying cellular architecture.