Effect of anticoagulation and lavage prior to casting of postmortem material with Mercox^® and Batson^® 17

Abstract

SummaryIn this study we compare the quality of vascular casts, obtained from organs of several animal species from different sources and sacrified under different conditions. Organs from healthy animals were injected with two different polymers such as Mercox and Batson No. 17. When the specimens were observed under a scanning electron microscope structural elements such as endothelial nuclear impressions on vessels and capillaries, endothelial cell borders, venous valves, imprints of smooth muscle cells and intra-arterial cushions were identified. Organs excised post mortem from large animals can be used for microvascular corrosion casting studies with optimal results.

Distinct vascular zones in the canine prostate

“…The casts were washed with deionized water to remove remnants of KOH or tissue. They were then dried at room temperature or in a stove at 37°C (Martin-Orti et al, 1999).…”

Corrosion casting in anatomy: Visualizing the architecture of hollow structures and surface details

“…For producing larger, anatomical casts, without the need for microscopic detail, and hence more viscous casting resins can be used that are less prone to leakage from the decaying tissues, casting remains feasible in a larger time window of a few days as long as the cadaver is kept “fresh.” For vascular corrosion casts, however, it is recommended that the animal is heparinized just prior to euthanasia (doses ranging from 125 to 1,000 IU per kg body weight; Gannon, ; Fahrenbach, Bacon, Morrison, & Buskirk, ) in order to prevent blood cloths obstructing the vessels to be casted. However, Martin‐Orti, Stefanov, Gaspar, Martin, and Martin‐Alguacil () found no beneficial effects of prior heparinization on the ultramicroscopic quality of the corrosion cast produced in large domestic animals. For the vascular corrosion casting of rabbits, the present authors advise heparinization before casting, a step that is not necessary in the vascular casting of rodents.…”

Vascular Corrosion Casting Technique Steps

“…1991, Pérez-Aparicio et al . 1996, Martín-Orti et al . 1999), Tyrode's solution Böck 1994, Okada andAharinejad 1997) or Ringer's solution (Ojima et al .…”