Plastic injection method for preparing microvascular corrosion casts for SEM and its practical application.

Abstract

This paper examines the application of the acryl plastic injection to the preparation of vascular corrosion microcasts for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The original injection method using acryl plastic was described by Taniguchi, Ohta et al. in 1952 and 1955, under the title of "New improved method for injection of acrylic resin". Three dimensional observations were undertaken in our laboratory on the angiology at the macro- and microscopic levels of various organs from various mammals employing the original method. Based on this extensive experience, an injection method for preparing corrosion microcasts for use in SEM was devised in our laboratory. Microcasts prepared by the present method were able to demonstrate the fine vascular architecture of each organ. In general, although applications for preparing vascular microcasts of isolated and parenchymal organs are not so difficult, the method can be used to be applicable for demonstrating the fine vascular architecture related to or within hard tissues, as well as for investigating the morphological relations between changes of vascular patterns and restorative changes in the surrounding tissues affected by experimental operations. SEM microphotographs are also presented to illustrate actual practical applications.