Nankeen ink model for histological distribution of solutions used in post mortem CT-angiography

Abstract

• It was possible to identify impregnation in capilar lumen on histological slices. • Nankeen ink allow histological distribution evaluation of the contrast used in PMCTA. • PEG and contrast mixtures reached the minor vessels of all the evaluated organs. • Soybean oil and contrast mixtures reached the minor vessels of all the evaluated organs. • No artifacts or histological damages were seen after the mixture injection. Post mortem computed tomography angiography (PMCTA) is an imaging modality that uses several different contrast solutions in order to highlight blood vessel paths in cadavers. This technique shows similar results when compared to conventional necropsy, especially for traumatic or vascular diseases. However, it is still unknown whether the chemical and histological features remain preserved after the intravascular injection of contrast solution for PMCTA. The aim of this study was to establish the histological regions reached by the contrast medium solution after a PMCTA procedure and to verify if the tissue architecture was preserved, using two different types of fluids to compose the solution (watery and oil fluid). A nankeen ink model was used in 2 dog cadavers with 2 different contrast solution, and a histological evaluation of the lung, liver and kidney was carried out. Nankeen ink impregnation was observed in all samples collected after the mixture injection showing the presence of ink impregnation within the blood vessel lumens. No histological artifacts were found and, moreover, histological architecture damages were not observed in those samples collected. It had been demonstrated that this nankeen ink model can be used for further studies in due to better understand the histological distribution of the contrast solution used in PMCTA procedures.