Shrinkage of renal tissue after impregnation via the cold Biodur plastination technique

Thorough dehydration is a key for good plastination and invariably it leads to shrinkage. Shrinkage during plastination has been studied to lesser extent. Shrinkage was studied in 10 pig kidneys including regional shrinkage (cortex, medulla, sinus) and at which stages of the process (dehydration, impregnation, curing) shrinkage occurred. Kidneys were fixation by perfusion of 10% neutral buffered formalin solution via the renal artery. The vessels and ureter were filled with colored silicone (Dow Corning, Silastic E RTV Silicone Rubber) and the kidneys were cut into one centimeter transverse slices. Two slices of each kidney were plastinated via the classic von Hagens' method. Slices were photographed at the same focal length after preparation and at the end of each stage of plastination. Slice surface area was determined by a point-counting planimetry method. Post dehydration shrinkage of the kidney was 10.21% while post impregnation 10.11%. After completion of plastination, total area of kidney slice shrinkage was 19.72%. Cortical area shrunk 12.81% after dehydration and 13.16% after impregnation. After plastination, cortical area had shrunk 24.28%. No significant shrinkage occurred in the medulla and sinus. Results demonstrate that kidney shrinkage during impregnation is as intense as during dehydration. Significant shrinkage occurred in the renal cortex but not in the medulla and sinus. This demonstrates that different tissue types, even in the same specimen, have different rates of shrinkage during dehydration and impregnation. Therefore, plastinated specimens should be used carefully in research where obtaining measures is important.