1994 Volume 43 Issue 3 Pages 440-451
A dental impression technique was applied for preparing a histological whole -mount specimen of the oral cavity and pharynx of the mouse. Hydrophilic vinyl polysiloxane impression material mixed with a hardening accelerator was injected into the lumen under pressure. After sufficient hardening (5 min. after the injection), mucosal tissue was removed together with surrounding glands and musculatures. The tissue blocks were dipped en bloc in the ZIO solution according to the method of Jabonero (1964) for 24 hrs. at room temperature. Tissue sheets containing various layers of the oral cavity and pharynx were prepared using a watchmaker's forceps, mounted on the glass slide, and observed by light microscopy. Three-dimensional interrelationshil-s between the nerves and vasculatures were demonstrated: both the blood vascular network and the nerve network were continuous in the median plane of the soft palate, hard palate, and boundary between pharyngeal and esophageal walls.Some whole-mount preparations were utilized for the immunohistochemical observations after fixation in Bouin's fluid. By immunostaining using an S-100b protein antiserum, Schwann cell networks of the autonomic nerve terminal apparatus appeared between the smooth muscles and salivary glands of the soft palate and other organs. The motor end plates in esophageal musculature were also demonstrated byimmunostaining using neurocalcin antiserum.
Peculiar blood vessels existed in the periphery of the SCC VII tumors transplanted into the soft palate and pharynx; however, neither lymphatic vessels nor nerve elements were seen in those tumors. Thus the improved whole-mount method of specimen preparation is useful for the histological investigation of the mechanisms of tumor invasion and metastasis in the field of oral surgery.
