A monomeric methyl and hydroxypropyl methacrylate injection medium and its utility in casting blood capillaries and liver bile canaliculi for scanning electron microscopy.

A Modified Method for Vascular Casting and Scanning Electron Microscopy: Its Utility in the Demonstration of Rat Pancreatic Insulo-Acinar and Other Blood Vascular Systems.

“…These results indicate that our technique is widely applicable for the investigation of delicate vascular systems in other organs and tissues of various animals. In fact, our recent studies have confirmed that the technique is compatible with our previously modified one (MURAKAMI et al, 1984) and useful even for casting the bile canaliculi of human liver biopsy samples. Scanning electron micrographs of cast samples in this paper confirm that many exocrine lobules contain no islet (Figs.…”

“…Scanning electron microscopy of cast samples allows a three-dimensional visualization of vascular and other tubular systems in various organs and tissues (MURAKAMI, 1971;NOWELL and LOHSE, 1974;HODDE and NOWELL, 1980;MURAKAMI et al, 1984;CHRISTOF-FERSON and NILSSON, 1987;LAMETSCHWANDTNER and LAMETSCHWANDTNER, 1992;OHTANI and MURA-KAMI,1992;YAMAMOTO et al, 1992). Many casting or injection media (polyester, latex, rubber) are commercially available for this purpose (NoWELL and LOHSE, 1974;HODDE and NOWELL, 1980;LAMETSCH-WANDTNER and LAMETSCHWANDTNER, 1992;OHTANI and MURAKAMI, 1992).…”

Blood vascular bed of the rat pituitary intermediate lobe, with special reference to its development and portal drainage into the anterior lobe. A scanning electron microscope study of vascular casts.

“…The animals were then perf used with physiological saline through the cannulated aorta. Immediately after perfusion, laboratory-prepared low viscosity methacrylate media, including a monomeric methyl and hydroxypropyl methacrylate mixture, were infused into the cannulated aorta until the superior vena cava was filled (MURAKAMI, 1971(MURAKAMI, , 1975MURAKAMI et al, 1984). For administration of the monomeric mixture, glutaraldehyde perfusion fixation was inserted prior to its infusion (MURAKAMI et al, 1984).…”

“…The methacrylate-infused animals were placed in a hot water bath (60°C), digested in a hot 10% NaOH solution (60°C), washed in water and dried in the air (MURAKAMI, 1971(MURAKAMI, , 1975MURAKAMI et al, 1984). The dried vascular casts thus prepared were mounted on metal stubs, coated with gold in an ion coater (IB-3, Eiko) and observed with a scanning electron microscope (HHS-2R, Hitachi) using an acceleration voltage of 5 kV (MURAKAMI, 1971(MURAKAMI, , 1975MURAKAMI et al, 1984).…”

“…The dried vascular casts thus prepared were mounted on metal stubs, coated with gold in an ion coater (IB-3, Eiko) and observed with a scanning electron microscope (HHS-2R, Hitachi) using an acceleration voltage of 5 kV (MURAKAMI, 1971(MURAKAMI, , 1975MURAKAMI et al, 1984). At various stages of this process, the casts were dissected repeatedly under a binocular light microscope (SMZ-10, Nikon) with sharpened knives, forceps or needles for isolation of the parts of the casts and for exposure of regions of interest (MURAKAMI, 1975;MURAKAMI et al, 1984). Furthermore, some of the casts were frozen in water and cut so that sharp and clear surfaces could be produced.…”