動物の硬組織と軟組織を同時観察する薄片作製のための新たな包埋法

抄録

We propose a new method of embedding animal samples in epoxy resin Devcon ET (Illinois Tool Works Inc.). This new method provides simultaneous observations of hard and soft tissues of extant animals on thin sections. Comparing to methods previously proposed, our method has advantage that the resin is inexpensive, colorless and transparent. The procedure is; (1) dehydrate the formalin-fixed samples sufficiently with acetone; (2) impregnate the sample with a heated mixed solution of Devcon ET and 99.8 % acetone under reduced pressure; (3) impregnate the sample with Devcon ET under reduced pressure and heat it until the resin cures. The second procedure enables to lower the viscosity of the resin. By this method, it became possible to make colorless transparent biological thin sections at low cost. The sample should more effectively be impregnated by the resin with a longer period of the dehydration and drilling of small holes on the surface.