X-Message-Number: 11611 Date: Sat, 24 Apr 1999 21:32:16 -0700 (PDT) From: Doug Skrecky <> Subject: electrochemical fixation techniques Citations: 1-2 <1> Authors Garzon-De La Mora P. Garcia-Estrada J. Ballesteros-Guadarrama A. Navarro-Ruiz A. De Jesus Macias-Comparan J. Murillo-Leano M. Casillas-Ochoa J. Pena-Moreno P. Institution Division de Bioquimica-Farmacologica, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Mexico. Title Electrochemical fixation techniques. I. Electrochemical fixation of human brain. Source Archives of Medical Research. 27(1):37-42, 1996 Spring. Abstract An electrochemical brain fixation procedure (EBFP) to treat brains excised from human cadavers is described thoroughly. It is as precise as any other similar method currently available. However, it takes only as much as 36 h to completion instead of the much longer lapses required by immersion in formaldehyde. Actions were taken to secure that it is not a source of artifacts of any kind, neither neurons nor glia or blood vessels. It is, therefore, amenable to be used as a valuable research and teaching tool. Other advantages are that it does not pose any health hazard, is money- and time-saving, and cuts down on equipment and facilities. <2> Authors Garcia-Estrada J. Garzon-de la Mora P. Ballesteros-Guadarrama A. Macias-Comparan JD. Murillo-Leano M. Navarro-Ruiz A. Casillas-Ochoa J. Pena-Moreno P. Institution Division de Bioquimica-Fannacologica, Centro de Investigacion de Occidente (CIBO), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico. Title Electrochemical fixation techniques. II. Electrochemical dog body fixation. Histological study. Source Archives of Medical Research. 27(2):127-32, 1996 Summer. Abstract This is the first attempt to harden all organs of a body together without excising them. This process was accomplished in bottom-belted, gastrointestinal (GI) or intravenously (i.v.) catheterized dog cadavers so as to influx an electrolytic solution containing formaldehyde (ESF). The i.v. influx of ESF was found to be the best perfusion pathway. After 48 h of immersion in ESF, 24 h current time of 17.5 A of current intensity, 24 degrees to 56 degrees C, we ended up with thoroughly fixed dog cadavers that were wrapped with ethyl alcohol:glycerol gauzes and stored in plastic bags at room temperature. Optical microscopy of every sliced tissue showed normal blood vessels, neurons, glial and Purkinje cells and their nuclei of brain and cerebellum, respectively. Cardiac muscle fibers were of normal appearance. Kidney Bowman's capsule and space were found to be normal except for vacuolarly degenerated tubules. Small intestine showed normal epithelial cells and crypts of Lieberkuhn. In liver, sinusoids were normally arrayed but showed vacuolar cell degeneration. Herein a method to attain an electrochemical whole body fixation is described. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=11611