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The Effect of a Soft‐Embalming Solution on the Histological Structure of Porcine Cerebral Vasculature
Author(s) -
Rockarts Jasmine,
Li Terry,
Pang Stephen,
MacKenzie Leslie
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.585.16
Subject(s) - embalming , staining , h&e stain , fixation (population genetics) , pathology , anatomy , fixative , soft tissue , medicine , chemistry , population , environmental health
In education and research, embalmed tissue provides an alternative to quickly deteriorating fresh tissue. The current standard is formaldehyde fixation, as it is a long‐lasting substitute for fresh tissue, but it fails to maintain the natural colour, texture and biomechanical properties that fresh tissue possesses. Soft embalming methods using phenol have been developed to preserve those qualities, whilst simultaneously reducing the biohazardous risk that fresh tissue possesses. Although numerous gross anatomical benefits of soft embalming methods have been previously studied, there is minimal investigation of the microscopic changes. The purpose of this study was to document changes in the microscopic features of cerebral vasculature caused by phenol‐based embalming fixative. A porcine model was used to test the effects of 10% formalin and phenol‐based fixatives after one and four weeks of immersion, compared to 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) as a control. Histological slides of vascular tissues associated with the brain were prepared for light microscopy using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) or Masson's Trichrome staining protocol. The qualitative changes were documented. The wall area of external carotid arteries and cerebral arterioles were analyzed for histometric changes. All fixatives maintained the histological features of typical vascular tissue. Phenol‐fixed blood vessels however, displayed a decreased shrinkage artifact and more eosinophilic staining properties than the formaldehyde‐fixed tissues. Upon quantitative analysis, it was determined that temporal differences had no effect on volumetric wall area. The 10% formalin‐fixed external carotid arteries displayed an increase in wall thickness when compared to the other fixatives after one week of immersion. Overall, 10% formalin‐fixed and phenol‐embalmed tissue preserved the structural quality of porcine vasculature. Phenol fixation proved to be a suitable alternative for histological preparation of muscular arteries and cerebral arterioles. The 10% formalin fixative may decrease shrinkage after tissue processing but, further investigation is required. The analyses of this study contribute to the continually growing body of work on the effects of soft embalming fixatives Support or Funding Information Queen's Graduate AwardExternal Carotid Arteries One Week Post HarvestExternal Carotid Arteries Four Weeks Post HarvestCerebral Arterioles One Week Post HarvestCerebral Arterioles Four Weeks Post Harvest