Vascular corrosion casting

Vascular corrosion casting uses resin to capture the 3D structure of blood vessels within human and animal tissue. It is widely used in research as a technique for obtaining the volume and surface area of the blood vessel network within an organ. The earliest known use of corrosion casting was by Robert Boyle in 1663.[1]

Technique

Vascular corrosion casting requires the use of a solidifying material such as a resin. The most common resin used for vascular corrosion casting is Batson's 17.[2] The process begins with the draining of blood from vessels to prevent blockage from clotting, this can be achieved by perfusing blood vessels with a physiological fluid such as phosphate buffered saline.[3] Subsequently, the blood vessels of interest are filled with resin (or alternative solidifying material). The resin is allowed to cure resulting in the blood vessel network containing a solid plastic material. Surrounding tissue is dissolved away using a corrosive chemical, commonly potassium hydroxide. Corrosion should not affect the resin, only dissolving tissue. The final product is a 3D network of blood vessels.

References
  1. J Hyrtl. Corrosions-Anatomie und ihre Ergebnisse. Braumu ̈ller, Wien, 1873.
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-18. Retrieved 2014-07-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Verli, Flaviana Dornela; Rossi-Schneider, Tissiana Raquel; Schneider, Felipe LuÍs; Yurgel, Liliane Soares; de Souza, Maria Antonieta Lopes (2007). "Vascular Corrosion Casting Technique Steps". Scanning. 29 (3): 128–132. doi:10.1002/sca.20051. PMID 17477397.
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