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Updated: May 25, 2026
An In Vivo Duo-color Method for Imaging Vascular Dynamics Following Contusive Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: December 31, 2017
Two methods can simultaneously display both intramuscular nerves and blood vessels
Da-Zhi Yu1, An-Tang Liu, Jian-Lin Zhang
1Shanghai and Qingdao, People's Republic of China; and Tokyo, Japan From the Department of Plastic Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University; the Department of Hand Surgery, Hospital 401 of the People's Liberation Army; the Department of Anatomy, Second Military Medical University; and the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keio University Hospital, Keio University.
Background:
The arrangement and relationship of intramuscular nerves and blood vessels are critical to clinical physicians, but the majority of previous studies could not reflect them precisely.
Methods:
In method 1, after rabbits were perfused with barium sulfate liquid silica gel, the specimen muscle was isolated and subjected to Sihler staining. The specimen muscles then underwent optical photography and molybdenum target radiography. The obtained photograph and the radiograph were then overlapped together to draw a map of intramuscular nerves and blood vessels. In method 2, after rabbits and child cadavers were perfused with semitransparent red liquid silica gel, the specimen muscle was isolated and subjected to Sihler staining. Finally, the specimen muscles were placed on an x-ray film viewer for photography.
Results:
Both methods had ideal outcomes. Through digital subtraction angiography, a distribution map of intramuscular nerves and blood vessels could be obtained in method 1, whereas in the photographs taken through method 2, the intramuscular nerves were counterstained with dark blue and the intramuscular blood vessels were stained red, which was more precise and direct. In method 2, specimens could be made into stereoscopic models.
Conclusions:
These two methods that can simultaneously display intramuscular nerves and blood vessels have been significantly improved and lead to a good result. They also have their own advantages. When a muscle studied is small or flat, method 2 is recommended because of its conciseness and convenience. If the muscle is large, method 1 is applicable.
