Methods for Permanent Conservation of Biological Objects and Anatomic Preparations in Synthetic Resins

Abstract

Two methods for preparing packets of synthetic resin for permanent preservation of biological objects and anatomical tissue have been developed. The first method is applied when adding corrosive preparations to epoxide resin. The corrosive preparation is soaked in a mixture of epoxide resin and hardener in a ratio, experimentally determined. The induration proceed at room temperature for 12 h. The second method has two options and is applied for the conservation of biological objects and anatomical preparations in polymethylmethacrylate by a successive immersing of the object in a system of dehydrating mixtures: 50%, 70%, 90% and 96% water solution of methanol and ethanol and in a mixture of acetone and ethanol (1:1) and in acetone or in methylene chloride. The object, thus prepared, is impregnated in vacuum with polymer of methylmethacrylate, benzoyl peroxide and stearic acid or in a composition containing: methylmethacrylate, benzoyl peroxide, dibutylphthalate and tertiary aromatic amine, in optimum correlations of the components, experimentally determined. The induration proceed by heating in a water bath (37 + 3 degrees C) for 3 h and at 30 degrees C temperature in the course of 6-8 h in the first option or at room temperature for about 3 days in the second option. The advantages of the proposed methods are: the use of cheap and available materials for the production of a simplified technological scheme of strongly transparent packages, preserved over a long period; preserving the sizes, the form and natural colour of the objects and preparations as well as a possibility for selective tinting of the separate tissues and systems in the preserved biological objects and anatomical preparations; a possibility for stereomicroscopic observation of the objects and preparations preserved.