Electrochemical fixation techniques: I. Electrochemical fixation of human brain

An electrochemical brain fixation procedure (EBFP) to treat brains excised from human cadavers is described thoroughly. It is as precise as any other similar method currently available. However, it takes only as much as 36 h to completion instead of the much longer lapses required by immersion in formaldehyde. Actions were taken to secure that it is not a source of artifacts of any kind, neither neurons nor glia or blood vessels. It is, therefore, amenable to be used as a valuable research and teaching tool. Other advantages are that it does not pose any health hazard, is money- and time-saving, and cuts down on equipment and facilities

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 (IV) catheterized dog cadavers so as to influx en electrolytic solution containing formaldehyde (ESF). The IV 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, 24º to 56ºC, 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 excepto for vacuolarly degenerated tubules. Small intestine showed normal epithelial cells andcrypts of Lieberkühn. In liver, sinusoids were normally arrayed but showed vacuolar cell degeneration. Herin a method to attain an electrochemical whole body fixation is described