Anatomical exploration of a dicephalous goat kid using sheet plastination (E12)

Abstract

A dicephalous, 1-day-old, female goat kid was presented for anatomical study. Epoxy plastination slices (E12) were used successfully to explore this condition. They provided excellent anatomic and bone detail, demonstrating organ position, shared structures, and vascular anatomy. Sheet plastination (E12) was used as an optimal method to clarify how the two heads were united, especially the neuroanatomy. The plastinated transparent slices allowed detailed study of the anatomical structures, in a non-collapsed and non-dislocated state. Thus, we anatomically explored this rare condition without traditional dissection. The advantages of plastination extended to the preservation at room temperature of this case for further topographical investigation. To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first published report of plastination of a dicephalous goat.

E12 sheet plastination: Techniques and applications

“…If sections 1.5–4.0 mm thick are desired, the piece is frozen at a very low temperature (generally −80°C) and then cut. The individual sections are then plastinated (Fritsch, ; Cook, ; Sora et al, , , , , ; Zhang and Lee, ; Leaper et al, ; Nash et al, , ; Sora and Genser‐Strobl, ; Fritsch et al, ; Al‐Ali et al, ; Elnady and Sora, ; Chen et al, ; Wegmann et al, ; Arredondo et al, ; Liu et al, ; Konschake and Fritsch, ; Liang et al, , ; Bernal‐Mañas et al, ; Thorpe Lowis et al, ; Ottone et al, ).…”

“…The tissue loss during cutting is related to the thickness of the saw blade. Several authors have reported various levels of tissue loss during cutting: 0.4 mm (Sora et al, , , , ; Sora and Genser‐Strobl, ; Sora, ), 0.5 mm (Cook, ), 1 mm (Sora et al , ; Elnady and Sora, ), 1.6 mm (Nash et al , ); and 2 mm (Zhang and Lee, ).…”

“…Most authors carried out dehydration at −25°C (Eckel et al, ; Fritsch, ; Sha et al, ; Johnson and Zhang, ; Sora et al, , , , , , , ; Qiu et al, , ; Lunacek et al, ; Nash et al, , ; Porzionato et al, ; Sora and Genser‐Strobl, ; Fritsch et al, ; Sora and Cook, ; Macchi et al, ; Elnady and Sora, ; Soal et al, ; Koslowsky et al, , ; Kürtül et al, ; Wegman et al, ; Arredondo et al, ; Konschake and Fritsch, ; Scali et al, , ; Ottone et al, ), except for Zhang and Lee (), Leaper et al (), Chen et al (), Liu et al (), Liang et al (, ), and Thorpe Lowis et al (), who used a temperature of −30°C. In all cases, the volumes of acetone necessary for dehydration started at over 90% and reached 100% in the final acetone bath.…”

“…Some authors use 100% acetone for this stage, exploiting its degreasing power (Steinke, ; Zhang and Lee, ; Leaper et al, ; Nash et al, , ; Macchi et al, ; Soal et al, ; Kürtül et al, ; Chen et al, ; Liu et al, ; Wegman et al, ; Liang et al, , ; Thorpe Lowis et al, ; Ottone et al, ). Other authors use MeCl as the degreasing agent, known for its powerful action but more toxic than acetone (Eckel et al, ; Fritsch, ; Sittel et al, ; Sora et al, , , , , , 2004; Lunacek et al, ; Sora and Genser‐Strobl, ; Fritsch et al, ; Al‐Ali et al, ; Elnady and Sora, ; Koslowsky et al, , ; Konschake and Fritsch, ). In one work, a combination of acetone and MeCl is used, always starting with acetone as a continuation of the dehydration process (Cook, ).…”

“…The time allowed for the forced impregnation differed depending on whether the regular epoxy technique (24–48 hr) or ultrathin section technique (several days) was used. In the regular epoxy technique, the process most frequently lasts for 24 hr (Sittel et al, ; Zhang and Lee, ; Leaper et al, ; Nash et al, , ; Soal et al, ; Konschake and Fritsch, ; Liang et al, , ); the next most frequent period, used by authors who follow the classic description of von Hagens (, ), is 48 hr (Cook, ; Elnady and Sora, ; Kürtül et al, ; Scali et al, , ; Thorpe Lowis et al, ). Other authors continue the process over two weeks (Lunacek et al, ; Fritsch et al, ); these are investigations using fetal samples from the pelvic region, with ultra‐thin sections of 300–700 µm cut with a diamond saw.…”