The microvascular cast as a three‐dimensional tissue skeleton: visualization of rapid morphological changes in tissues of the rat uterus

PAW Rogers, BJ Gannon - Journal of Microscopy, 1983 - Wiley Online Library
PAW Rogers, BJ Gannon
Journal of Microscopy, 1983Wiley Online Library
SUMMARY A new interpretation of microvascular corrosion casting is described using
examples from casts of the rat uterus taken during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy.
The casts are considered as representing a three‐dimensional model of the tissue vascular
space; this characteristic model or tissue skeleton is used to demonstrate transient
morphological changes that may be difficult to visualize by other techniques, that may be
obscured by other structures, or destroyed by conventional aldehyde fixation procedures …
Summary
A new interpretation of microvascular corrosion casting is described using examples from casts of the rat uterus taken during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. The casts are considered as representing a three‐dimensional model of the tissue vascular space; this characteristic model or tissue skeleton is used to demonstrate transient morphological changes that may be difficult to visualize by other techniques, that may be obscured by other structures, or destroyed by conventional aldehyde fixation procedures. This new application, when supplemented by conventional histology to determine vessel distribution within the tissue and to confirm observations first made by casting, provides a technique for visualizing three‐dimensional morphological changes in tissues that is accurate, relatively simple and far more rapid than the laborious method of histological serial sectioning and three‐dimensional tissue reconstruction.
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