Plexiform vascular structures in the human digital dermal layer: A SEM – corrosion casting morphological study

The coleorhiza is a nonvascular sheath that encloses the embryonic radicle in Poaceae, and is generally the first tissue to emerge during germination. Delicate hairlike extensions develop from some coleorhiza cells prior to radicle emergence. Similar to root hairs, coleorhiza hairs are extremely sensitive to desiccation and are damaged by exposure to negative water potentials. The coleorhiza of Lolium perenne is somewhat spherical when first visible, after which a knob forms at a right angle to the caryopsis due to inner pressure from the elongating radicle. This knob increases in length until the radicle finally punctures the coleorhiza. Standard fixation procedures cause severe desiccation of coleorhiza cells and hairs, making morphological study of the coleorhiza difficult. This study was conducted to determine a more successful process for coleorhiza preservation.

Download Full-text

Some quantitative applications of vascular corrosion casting

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100124094 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 738-739

Author(s):

Fred E. Hossler

Keyword(s):

Blood Vessels ◽

Nuclear Orientation ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Surrounding Tissue ◽

Confocal Laser ◽

Corrosion Casting ◽

Venous Valve ◽

Casting Technique ◽

Low Viscosity ◽

Quantitative Measurements

Preparation of replicas of the complex arrangement of blood vessels in various organs and tissues has been accomplished by infusing low viscosity resins into the vasculature. Subsequent removal of the surrounding tissue by maceration leaves a model of the intricate three-dimensional anatomy of the blood vessels of the tissue not obtainable by any other procedure. When applied with care, the vascular corrosion casting technique can reveal fine details of the microvasculature including endothelial nuclear orientation and distribution (Fig. 1), locations of arteriolar sphincters (Fig. 2), venous valve anatomy (Fig. 3), and vessel size, density, and branching patterns. Because casts faithfully replicate tissue vasculature, they can be used for quantitative measurements of that vasculature. The purpose of this report is to summarize and highlight some quantitative applications of vascular corrosion casting. In each example, casts were prepared by infusing Mercox, a methyl-methacrylate resin, and macerating the tissue with 20% KOH. Casts were either mounted for conventional scanning electron microscopy, or sliced for viewing with a confocal laser microscope.

Download Full-text

Microvasculature and structure of hemal lymph nodes in the wall of the rabbit bladder: a vascular corrosion casting and EM study

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100141743 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. 1074-1075

Author(s):

F.E. Hossler ◽

M.I. McKamey ◽

F.C. Monson

Keyword(s):

Lymph Nodes ◽

Light Microscopy ◽

Corrosion Casting ◽

Fixed Tissue ◽

Infusion Pressure ◽

India Ink ◽

Cacodylate Buffer ◽

Rabbit Bladder ◽

Lateral Walls ◽

Comprehensive Study

A comprehensive study of the microvasculature of the normal rabbit bladder, revealed unusual "capillary glomeruli" along the lateral walls. Here they are characterized as hemal lymph nodes using light microscopy, SEM, TEM, ink injection, and vascular casting.Bladders were perfused via a cannula placed in the abdominal aorta with either 2% glutaraldehyde in 0.1M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.4) for fixation, 10% India ink in 0.9% saline and 0.1M phosphate (pH 7.4) for vessel tracing, or resin (Mercoximethylmethacrylate: catalyst, 4:1:0.3; Ladd Research Industries) for vascular corrosion casting. Infusion pressure was 100mm Hg. Fixed tissue was sectioned from epon-araldyte resin, and stained with toluidine blue for light microscopy, and lead and uranium for TEM. Ink injected tissue was photographed directly from saline-filled bladders illuminated from below. Resin-filled tissue was macerated in 5% KOH and distilled water. Casts were critical point dried, sputter coated with goldpalladium, and examined by routine SEM at 10 KV.

Download Full-text