Electrochemical fixation techniques. II. Electrochemical dog body fixation. Histological study

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 Lieberkühn. In liver, sinusoids were normally arrayed but showed vacuolar cell degeneration. Herein a method to attain an electrochemical whole body fixation is described.