A simple method for vital staining of elastin in arterial tissue

Highly diluted solutions of Gentian Violet and Evans Blue were used to visualize the elastin network in viable porcine right common carotid artery (RCCA) preparations. The two simple, alternative methods of staining were applied to proximal, intermediate, and distal sections of RCCA under various experimental conditions. These included the state of the vessel wall soon after excision, under relaxed smooth muscle condition after preconditioning, and during vasoconstriction. Micrographs of arterial rings, sectors, and axial strips show that the RCCA is an artery of the elastic type at the proximal end and of the muscular type at the distal end. While in sections of freshly dissected or KCl-constricted arteries the elastic lamellae show the well-known waviness, those in sections from arteries with relaxed smooth muscle and after preconditioning appear nearly straight. It is hoped that the inexpensive staining tools will contribute to solve conflicting interpretations existing on elastin structures in the arterial wall.