An Alternative Method for the Comparative Study of Coronary Vessels: Repletion and Diaphanization Experience in Seven Animal Models

Abstract

Coronary arteries establish a complex blood vessel system, right and left coronary arteries commonly originate from the aortic sinuses and divide into multiple branches that supply the heart with several important variations between species. Diaphanization is a preservative technique which allows internal structures visualization, maintaining the three-dimensionality of the specimen. In this study, human (Homo sapiens), goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), bovine (Bos Taurus), equine (Equus caballus), porcine (Sus scrofa domesticus), canine (Canis lupus familiaris) and feline (Felis silvestris catus) coronary arteries were injected with selfcuring methyl-methacrylate and posteriorly diaphanized. The coronary vasculature was adequately observed in all models while keeping the three-dimensional relation with surrounding cardiac structures, except for septal arteries which were not visualized. As incidental findings, anatomical variations in canine and human hearts were observed. Repletion-diaphanization is a useful blended method to visualize the morphology of superficial coronary arteries. It could be a valuable tool in anatomical teaching and research, but further research needs to be done to prove its effectiveness in different vessel systems.