Corrosion Casting Research Articles

Comparison of the Rostral Epidural Rete Mirabile and the Patterns of Its Blood Supply in Selected Suiformes and Hippopotamuses.

The rostral epidural rete mirabile (rete mirabile epidurale rostrale) is built of considerable small arterial vessels that anastomose with each other. This structure is formed as a result of the division of a large arterial vessel into many small arteries. Furthermore, on the other side of the rete mirabile, these small arteries are joined together to form one large artery, through which blood flows out of the rete mirabile. This system participates in decreasing the temperature of the brain and thus protects the body from thermal stress. Moreover, it influences body-water balance and has a crucial role in the retrograde transfer of neuropeptides. The goal of this study was to describe the rostral epidural rete mirabile and pathways that provide blood to this structure as well as compare it in selected Suiformes and hippopotamuses. The study was performed on desert warthogs (Phacochoerus aethiopicus), Eurasian wild boars (Sus scrofa), collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu), pygmy hippopotamuses (Choeropsis liberiensis), and common hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius). Preparations were made using the latex method and corrosion cast. An elongated shape characterizes its anatomy with a much wider rostral part than caudal part in the Eurasian wild boars, desert warthogs, and collared peccaries. The main source of blood was the branch to the rostral epidural rete mirabile branched off from the internal carotid artery. Moreover, blood enters the rete by the caudal branch and rostral branch to the rostral epidural rete mirabile. In hippopotamuses, the major source of blood was the rostral branches to the rostral epidural rete mirabile.

Arterial vascularisation of pig’s auditory tube with respect to a. palatina ascendens – a corrosion cast and morphometric study

The aim of this study was to determine species-specific features of arterial vascularisation of the auditory tube of domestic pigs as a segment connecting the nasopharynx and the middle ear with regard to the increasing role of pigs as most appropriate model of human biomedical research. The arterial branches involved in the vascularisation of the auditory tube were described on corrosion casts. It was found out that in the direction of the middle ear, the tube received blood from branches of a. palatina ascendens, a. meningea media, a. temporalis profunda caudalis and rete mirabile epidurale rostrale, out of which the first of enumerated arteries was the most involved. In the majority of cases (87.5%) it gave off two branches that ramified in the lateral and medial walls of the tube. For the first time, it was demonstrated that a. palatina ascendens was separated from the facial artery and not from a. lingualis. The measurements on casts showed that the diameter of left a. palatina ascendens was statistically significantly larger than right one in both sexes, and that average diameters of either right or left arteries were larger in males. The results allowed concluding that a. palatina ascendens was predominantly involved in the arterial blood supply of porcine auditory tube.

Maceration stage in corrosion cast specimen procedure in anatomy: a minireview.

The etching stage of the corrosive preparation is a crucial element of creating a high quality anatomical specimen, which can be a source of scientific knowledge and support the teaching process. Nowadays, thermal techniques such as microwave cooking, enzymatic corrosion, and chemical corrosion are used. Living organisms can also be used for tissue maceration. Interactions between the corrosive substance and the filler carry a risk of failure; thus, choosing the correct method is key to the success of this technique. In this paper, we have reviewed the latest literature in order to present the strengths and weaknesses of currently used corrosion techniques. We proposed a definition of an ideal corrosive medium and compared the available techniques of etching corrosive preparations with a hypothetical perfect medium.

Three-dimensional analyses of vascular network morphology in a murine lymph node by X-ray phase-contrast tomography with a 2D Talbot array.

With growing molecular evidence for correlations between spatial arrangement of blood vasculature and fundamental immunological functions, carried out in distinct compartments of the subdivided lymph node, there is an urgent need for three-dimensional models that can link these aspects. We reconstructed such models at a 1.84 µm resolution by the means of X-ray phase-contrast imaging with a 2D Talbot array in a short time without any staining. In addition reconstructions are verified in immunohistochemistry staining as well as in ultrastructural analyses. While conventional illustrations of mammalian lymph nodes depict the hilus as a definite point of blood and lymphatic vessel entry and exit, our method revealed that multiple branches enter and emerge from an area that extends up to one third of the organ's surface. This could be a prerequisite for the drastic and location-dependent remodeling of vascularization, which is necessary for lymph node expansion during inflammation. Contrary to corrosion cast studies we identified B-cell follicles exhibiting a two times denser capillary network than the deep cortical units of the T-cell zone. In addition to our observation of high endothelial venules spatially surrounding the follicles, this suggests a direct connection between morphology and B-cell homing. Our findings will deepen the understanding of functional lymph node composition and lymphocyte migration on a fundamental basis.

Inflammation and vascular remodeling in COVID-19 hearts

A wide range of cardiac symptoms have been observed in COVID-19 patients, often significantly influencing the clinical outcome. While the pathophysiology of pulmonary COVID-19 manifestation has been substantially unraveled, the underlying pathomechanisms of cardiac involvement in COVID-19 are largely unknown. In this multicentre study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of heart samples from 24 autopsies with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and compared them to samples of age-matched Influenza H1N1 A (n = 16), lymphocytic non-influenza myocarditis cases (n = 8), and non-inflamed heart tissue (n = 9). We employed conventional histopathology, multiplexed immunohistochemistry (MPX), microvascular corrosion casting, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray phase-contrast tomography using synchrotron radiation, and direct multiplexed measurements of gene expression, to assess morphological and molecular changes holistically. Based on histopathology, none of the COVID-19 samples fulfilled the established diagnostic criteria of viral myocarditis. However, quantification via MPX showed a significant increase in perivascular CD11b/TIE2 + —macrophages in COVID-19 over time, which was not observed in influenza or non-SARS-CoV-2 viral myocarditis patients. Ultrastructurally, a significant increase in intussusceptive angiogenesis as well as multifocal thrombi, inapparent in conventional morphological analysis, could be demonstrated. In line with this, on a molecular level, COVID-19 hearts displayed a distinct expression pattern of genes primarily coding for factors involved in angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), changes not seen in any of the other patient groups. We conclude that cardiac involvement in COVID-19 is an angiocentric macrophage-driven inflammatory process, distinct from classical anti-viral inflammatory responses, and substantially underappreciated by conventional histopathologic analysis. For the first time, we have observed intussusceptive angiogenesis in cardiac tissue, which we previously identified as the linchpin of vascular remodeling in COVID-19 pneumonia, as a pathognomic sign in affected hearts. Moreover, we identified CD11b + /TIE2 + macrophages as the drivers of intussusceptive angiogenesis and set forward a putative model for the molecular regulation of vascular alterations.

Head arteries of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a medium-sized rodent protected in most of Europe. The present study aimed to investigate and describe the arterial vascularization of the head of the adult red squirrel. In the study, 48 specimens of adult red squirrels were used. The first preparation method used in the study was corrosion casting using a stained solution of the chemo-setting acrylic material injected into bilateral common carotid arteries resulting in corrosion castings of the vessels on a bone scaffold. The second method was injecting liquid-stained latex into both common carotid arteries. It resulted in a stained arterial vessel on fixed soft tissue preparations. The main vessels providing blood to the head were paired with common carotid arteries that divide into external and internal carotid arteries. The internal carotid artery passes into the stapedial artery. After giving its branches, the stapedial artery exits the cranial cavity through the sphenofrontal foramen and enters the orbit. The suborbital and the mandibular regions were supplied by the maxillary artery, linguofacial trunk, and their branches. Description of the detailed anatomy of the head arteries in red squirrels may contribute to establishing diagnostic and treatment protocols for wildlife rehabilitation centers, which may be crucial since red squirrels are endangered by the spreading of invasive Eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) in Europe. It may also contribute to veterinary care for other members of the Sciuridae family kept as pets.

Tissue Elimination of Large Vascular Corrosion Casting for Anatomy Education

Objective: Vascular corrosion casting is crucial tool for three-dimensional study. Focusing on the casting for gross anatomy, large fatty tissue reacts with corrosive agents resulting in extensive saponification. Our study aimed to prevent saponification by a) finding the optimal corrosion temperature and concentration of corrosive agent and b) comparing the flow of the agent with conventional “non-flow” setting.
 Materials and Methods: Phase I: pig fatty tissues, weighing 10 g each, were immersed in still (non-flowing) solution containing 0.5%, 1%, and 5% sodium hydroxide. Different temperatures were set to find the minimum soap-free temperature for each concentration. Phases II, III: 6 pig hearts were injected via the coronary arteries with polymethyl methacrylate. Three hearts were immersed in non-flowing 0.5%, 1%, and 5% NaOH solution, while another three were placed in a flowing solution. The flow was set in a vertical upward fashion in a specialized chamber while the outflow residue was collected from the system. The temperature was set at the minimum soap-free temperature. The durations of the corrosion were compared.
 Results: The minimum soap-free temperatures for the 0.5%, 1%, and 5% concentrations were 55°C, 54°C, and 47°C, respectively. The corrosion times for the non-flowing 0.5%, 1%, and 5% concentrations were 216 h, 114 h, and 24 h, respectively. Flowing of the solution reduced the corrosion time by 25%-39% compared with the non-flowing.
 Conclusion: The most efficient condition for soap-free coronary corrosion casting is 5% NaOH solution at a minimal temperature of 47°C.

Vascular supply of the metacarpophalangeal joint.

To describe in detail the arterial vasculature of metacarpophalangeal joints 2-5 on cadaver specimens and to compare it to ultrasound imaging of healthy subjects. Eighteen hands of donated human cadavers were arterially injected and investigated with either corrosion casting or cryosectioning. Each layer of cryosectioned specimens was photographed in high-resolution. Images were then segmented for arterial vessels of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints 2-5. The arterial pattern of the joints was reconstructed from the segmented images and from the corrosion cast specimens. Both hands of ten adult healthy volunteers were scanned focusing on the vasculature of the same joints with high-end ultrasound imaging, including color Doppler. Measurements were made on both cryosectioned arteries and Doppler images. The arterial supply of MCP joints 2-5 divides into a metacarpal and a phalangeal territory, respectively. The metacarpal half receives arteries from the palmar metacarpal arteries or proper palmar digital arteries, while the phalangeal half is supplied by both proper and common palmar digital arteries. Comparing anatomical and ultrasonographic results, we determined the exact anatomic location of normal vessels using Doppler images acquired of healthy joints. All, except three branches, were found with less than 50% frequency using ultrasound. Doppler signals were identified significantly more frequently in MCP joints 2-3 than on 4-5 (p < 0.0001). Similarly, Doppler signals differed in the number of detectable small, intraarticular vessels (p < 0.009), but not that of the large extraarticular ones (p < 0.1373). When comparing measurements acquired by ultrasound and on cadaver vessels, measurements using the former technique were found to be larger in all joints (p < 0.0001). Using morphological and ultrasonographic techniques, our study provides a high-resolution anatomical maps and an essential reference data set on the entire arterial vasculature of healthy human MCP 2-5 joints. We found that Doppler signal could be detected in less than 50% of the vessels of healthy volunteers except three locations. Intraarticular branches were detected with ultrasound imaging significantly more frequently on healthy MCP 2-3 joints, which should be taken into account when inflammatory and normal Doppler signals are evaluated. Our study also provides reference data for future, higher-resolution imaging techniques.

Evaluation of the compatibility between corrosion casts and 3D reconstruction of pig head arterial system on cone beam computed tomography

This study aimed to compare the corrosion cast models of the porcine head arterial system with three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) of these cast models. Six heads from sows were simultaneously injected through both carotid arteries with Duracryl Plus for corrosion cast technique and an additional head, also from another one sow head, was filled with saturated lead tetroxide (Pb3O4) in a 10% hot water solution (40°C) of gelatin for CBCT study. Two-dimensional (2D) images were stored in Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM). Subsequently, segmentation and post-processing of these images were performed by using various software programs. The 3D models were found to be compatible with the corrosion cast models. It was observed that osseous structures and arteries were clearly identified on CBCT images. Specimen scan, segmentation, and post segmentation had a duration of 10-15 minutes, 4 hours, and 15 minutes, respectively. The internal carotid artery, external carotid artery, and its main branches were seen well on 3D models. In conclusion, it is considered that 3D models and images can be effectively used in anatomy education, radiological evaluations, pathological and variational investigations.

Are the Variations of the Vascular System in Neurology Underestimated ?

Abstract The spinal cord issues affect dogs and cats very commonly. The right diagnostics, therapy, and patient’s managements are challenging for almost all veterinarians. There exist many vascular anomalies such as: the vertebral arteries ectasia, hypoplasia and subclavian steal syndrome. These anomalies affect the patient’s neurological status directly. The modern diagnostic approaches (Computed Tomography [CT], and Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI]) help with the diagnosis of the vascular abnormalities of the spinal cord and various other vascular anomalies. The cervical part of the spinal cord is supplied with the spinal branches from the vertebral arteries. The vertebral arteries as the first branches arise separately from the subclavian artery and they exit the thoracic aperture and enter into the transverse foramen of the sixth cervical vertebra. The arterial system of dogs was studied in 14 dogs (carcasses), the average age of which was 7 years. The carcasses were divided into two groups: 11 dogs were studied by the corrosion casting method (Duracryl Plus) and 3 dogs were studied by contrast radiography (Urografin 76 %). We confirmed the standard origin and course of the left vertebral for all but one case. The right vertebral artery originated as an independent branch in 57.14 % of the cases; in the rest of them, we reported on the variability in origin and formation of inconstant branches. The formation of anastomoses was reported also. Our work contributed new information about the thoracic and cervical arterial system in dogs.

Anatomy of parotid gland and its secretory ducts in sheep.

The parotid gland in sheep ends freely in front of the masseter muscle, and paracondylary section of occipital bone and extends deep until pterygoid extends of sphenoid bone and hyoid bone. The structure of salivary glands in mammals has been thoroughly studied using histological and sialographic method. This study aimed to reveal the detailed anatomic features and race-specific differences of the canal system of the parotid glands in Akkaraman sheep by using the corrosion cast technique. Thirteen sheep parotid glands from 7 Akkaraman sheep were used in this study. Parotid glands were removed from their places with ducts. Measurements were made with a calliper from back to front, top to bottom and inside to outside. After dissection of the parotid glands, their volumes were measured according to the 'Archimedes principle'. Also, 13 sheep parotid glands were examined using the polyester resin method. In the present study, our average metric results were: length of parotid duct was 10.92 ± 1.027 cm, length of parotid gland was 5.87 ± 1.04 cm, volume of parotid gland was 12.50 ± 2.48 cm³, thickness of parotid gland was 0.75 ± 0.36 cm and width of parotid gland was 4.07 ± 0.43 cm. The average weight of the parotid gland of Akkaraman sheep was identified as 25.3 g. Accessory parotid gland was not encountered in the current study. It was observed that polyester entered into the parotid duct and filled up until the acinus and made both acinus and secretory ducts well-examined in this study. It was also observed that the parotid gland consisted of lobes and lobules. The average number of lobes was 12. The number of lobules in a lobe varied between 3 and 16, each lobe consisted of an average of 9 lobules. It was found that each lobe has its own lobar duct.

A Method to Visualize and Quantify the Intraosseous Arteries of the Femoral Head by Vascular Corrosion Casting.

ObjectiveTo describe a method to display the three‐dimensional distribution of intraosseous arteries in the femoral head by vascular corrosion casting.MethodsAn experimental study was done to expose the intraosseous arteries of the femoral head by a microperfusion corrosion method between January 2021 and May 2021. Specimens were 23 swine femoral heads (12 female specimens and 11 male specimens, where age of swine ranged from 8 to 12 months, and the weight was approximately 150 kg). The femoral heads were microperfused with the vascular casting resin through retinacular arteries, and the bone of the femoral head was dissolved with 50% sodium hydroxide and 10% hydrochloric acid and rinsed under the microscope until the vessel casts were completely exposed. The distribution and anastomosis of the arteries in the femoral head were observed under direct vision and microscopy. The diameter of the artery in the femoral head was measured at 0.5 cm after its entry into the bone of the femoral head with a microscale under the microscope. The number of internal arteries with diameter ≥0.05 mm was counted. The number and diameter of the main trunk of the epiphyseal arteries in the femoral head between male and female swine were compared.ResultsThe vascular casting specimen of the swine femoral head was successfully produced by using epoxy resin as a casting agent, and the three‐dimensional intraosseous vascular structures were clearly visible. The number of epiphyseal arteries in male and female swine was 8.55 ± 2.15 and 8.83 ± 2.15 (t = −0.31, p = 0.38), respectively. The diameters of the superior epiphyseal arteries in male and female swine were 0.35 ± 0.09 and 0.31 ± 0.08 mm (t = 1.03, p = 0.16), the diameters of the inferior epiphyseal arteries were 0.47 ± 0.05 and 0.49 ± 0.09 mm (t = −0.57, p = 0.29), and the diameters of the anterior epiphyseal arteries were 0.34 ± 0.08 and 0.33 ± 0.13 mm (t = 0.32, p = 0.37). There was no significant difference in the number and diameter of the main trunk of intraosseous arteries between male and female swine (p > 0.05). The main trunk of intraosseous arteries formed an anastomosis in the center of the femoral head. Among 23 swine femoral head samples, three types of intraosseous anastomosis were observed, including 13 (57%) posterior superior‐posterior inferior, seven (30%) posterior inferior‐anterior, and three (13%) uniform intraosseous anastomosis.ConclusionThe microperfusion corrosion method can produce the vascular casting specimen of swine femoral head revealing the three‐dimensional structure of the intraosseous artery, which clearly shows the origin, course and branches, and diameter, as well as the anastomosis, of nutrient arteries in the femoral head. This method provides a simple and rapid technique for quantifying and visualizing intraosseous arteries.

Non-linear shrinkage of Batson's #17 resin during vascular corrosion casting.

Many studies of cardiovascular function require a realistic representation of vascular geometry. Corrosion casting has been used to acquire such geometries for many decades. However, the fidelity with which this method reproduces vascular anatomy has not been completely determined. Here we report on the non-linear shrinkage characteristics and exothermic properties of Batson's #17, a widely used casting resin, in model systems and in aortas of rats and rabbits. The setting process was captured using high-resolution photography. Shrinkage ranged from 3.4± 1.5% of the diameter in 1ml plastic syringes (inner diameter 4.8 mm) to 19.6± 5.6% in the aorta of rats (diameter 1.5-2.6 mm). In addition, aortic curvature and branching angles changed during setting. These effects should be determined and corrected in studies of vascular geometry where high accuracy is required.

Beneficial effects of gymnemic acid on three-dimensional vascular architecture and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor of intrarenal segmental and interlobar arteries in diabetic rat kidney

Background: A high prevalence of atherosclerotic vascular lesions has been associated with renal disease and diabetes and is a major cause for increasing deaths from cardiovascular disease. The present study aimed to determine the beneficial effects of gymnemic acids on the kidney microvasculature and to establish their anti-angiogenic properties that are related to the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein of segmental and interlobar arteries in induced diabetic rats. Methods: Rats were divided into five groups including the control group (C), control treated with gymnemic acid (CGM), diabetic animals (DM group) that were rendered diabetic by a single dose [60 mg/kg body weight (BW)] of a streptozotocin (STZ) injection, diabetic rats treated with gymnemic acid (400 mg/kg BW) (GM), and diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide (4 mg/kg BW) (GR). After 8 weeks, kidney tissues were collected for histological analysis. In rats with DM, the segmental arteries exhibited increased wall thickness. The kidney microvasculature was examined using the vascular corrosion casting method. Results: Rats with DM presented a decreasing diameter of segmental and interlobar arteries. They were evidently redeveloped and restored in the GM and GR groups. As determined by immunofluorescence, the expression of VEGF was significantly reduced in both the GM and GR groups. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that gymnemic acid from Gymnemasylvestre may be a promising medical herb for use in the treatment of diabetes and kidney disease.Keywords: diabetes mellitus, segmental artery, interlobar artery, gymnemic acid, vascular architecture

Rigorous mathematical optimization of synthetic hepatic vascular trees.

In this paper, we introduce a new framework for generating synthetic vascular trees, based on rigorous model-based mathematical optimization. Our main contribution is the reformulation of finding the optimal global tree geometry into a nonlinear optimization problem (NLP). This rigorous mathematical formulation accommodates efficient solution algorithms such as the interior point method and allows us to easily change boundary conditions and constraints applied to the tree. Moreover, it creates trifurcations in addition to bifurcations. A second contribution is the addition of an optimization stage for the tree topology. Here, we combine constrained constructive optimization (CCO) with a heuristic approach to search among possible tree topologies. We combine the NLP formulation and the topology optimization into a single algorithmic approach. Finally, we attempt the validation of our new model-based optimization framework using a detailed corrosion cast of a human liver, which allows a quantitative comparison of the synthetic tree structure with the tree structure determined experimentally down to the fifth generation. The results show that our new framework is capable of generating asymmetric synthetic trees that match the available physiological corrosion cast data better than trees generated by the standard CCO approach.

Endothelialitis, Microischemia, and Intussusceptive Angiogenesis in COVID-19.

COVID-19 has been associated with a range of illness severity-from minimal symptoms to life-threatening multisystem organ failure. The severe forms of COVID-19 appear to be associated with an angiocentric or vascular phase of the disease. In studying autopsy patients succumbing to COVID-19, we found alveolar capillary microthrombi were 9 times more common in COVID-19 than in comparable patients with influenza. Corrosion casting of the COVID-19 microcirculation has revealed microvascular distortion, enhanced bronchial circulation, and striking increases in intussusceptive angiogenesis. In patients with severe COVID-19, endothelial cells commonly demonstrate significant ultrastructural injury. High-resolution imaging suggests that microcirculation perturbations are linked to ischemic changes in microanatomic compartments of the lung (secondary lobules). NanoString profiling of these regions has confirmed a transcriptional signature compatible with microischemia. We conclude that irreversible tissue ischemia provides an explanation for the cystic and fibrotic changes associated with long-haul COVID-19 symptoms.

Morphology of the pattern of branching of the aortic arch (Arcus aortae) in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus).

The branching patterns of the aortic arches of 28 adult male and female Syrian hamsters (SH) were thoroughly examined under a stereomicroscope for the first time by using latex injection and corrosion casting to determine their general arrangements and morphological variations as well as their differences and similarities to other rodents and rabbits. Three major arteries, namely, the brachiocephalic trunk (BC), left common carotid artery (CC) and left subclavian artery (SA), originating from the aortic arch (AR), were uniformly noted in SH. The BC was consistently divided into the right SA and the right CA. SA in SH normally releases the internal thoracic, deep cervical, dorsal scapular, vertebral, superficial cervical and supreme intercostal arteries. The costocervical trunk typically consisted of supreme intercostal and internal thoracic arteries and a common trunk for dorsal scapular and deep cervical arteries. To comprehend the comparative morphology of the pattern of branching of AR more completely, our results were compared with previous studies in rodents and rabbits. (1) The general morphology of the great arteries from AR in SH was similar to that in mole rats, rats, mice, porcupines, and gerbils but was essentially different from that in rabbits, guinea pigs, red squirrels, ground squirrels, pacas and chinchillas. (2) The typical pattern of the branching of the subclavian arteries in SH was similar to that in guinea pigs, rats, and rabbits but was different from that of the reported rodents regardless of the origins of the bronchoesophageal and internal thoracic arteries and the composition of the costocervical trunk.

Güney Karaman Koyunlarında Koroner Arterler ve DallarıÜzerine Makroanatomik Bir Çalişma:KorozyonKastTekniğive Lateks Yöntemi

This study was carried out to reveal the coronary arteries and their branches that provide vascularization of the heart in Southern Karaman sheep. Eight Southern Karaman sheep were used in the study. The coronary arteriesand their branches providing arterial vascularization of the heart were determined using latex injection and corrosion casting technique. Arteria coronaria sinistra and its branches were observed to be more dominant than arteria coronaria dextra. It was determined that afterthe origin of arteria coronaria sinistra, it splits into two main branches as ramus interventricularis paraconalis and ramus circumflexus sinister. It was determined that arteria coronaria dextra continued on its way as ramus circumflexus dexter after reaching the sulcus coronarius and gave branches to ensure the vascularization of the region tissues. This study aimed to reveal the coronary arteries and their branches in Southern Karaman of Turkey's domestic sheep breeds, and it is thought that it will contribute to new studies on this breed.

From identifying polymeric resins to corrosion casting applications

AbstractCorrosion casting is an important manufacturing technique to replicate anatomical structures. Its execution is often based on the injection of resins that can be polymerized starting at room temperature in the presence of an accelerator, which suits most of the practical requirements. In the present contribution, we highlight the main challenges of the corrosion casting technique, addressing a multidisciplinary research angle connecting the fields of life science, veterinary science, materials science, rheology, and polymer reaction engineering. We pay attention to (commercial) material availability, casting medium selection criteria, specimen preparation, maceration, injection possibilities, cleaning procedures, and detail of replication. We start the discussion from general principles and recommendations to then include major examples for each corrosion casting characteristic addressed.

Anomaly of the sixth cervical vertebra accompanied by atypical course of the vertebral artery in a dog

AbstractThe vertebral arteries, as the first branches from the subclavian arteries, normally enter into the transverse foramen of the sixth cervical vertebra in dogs. This case report presents the non‐standard course of the left vertebral artery and unilateral asymmetry of the sixth cervical vertebra in a 14‐year‐old female mixed breed dog. The anomaly was an incidental finding during the preparation of a corrosion cast prepared for educational and scientific purposes. The left sixth cervical vertebra transverse foramen and the ventral lamina were not developed. The left vertebral artery originated normally from the left subclavian artery, but atypically entered into the transverse foramen of the fifth cervical vertebra. On the right side, the anatomical structures of the sixth cervical vertebra and the course of the right vertebral artery were normally developed. To our knowledge, this is the first case of such an anomaly described in a dog.