X-Message-Number: 26652
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2005 12:39:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: chemopreservation

> Message #26640 From: "D. den Otter" <>
>
> <<One possibility that has been noted is plastination,
> which in some ways sounds great but could have a
> devastating downside. I am
> referring to "defatting" that must be done (according
> to what I read some months ago), which might destroy
> structure encoding memories and such. Does
> anyone know about this?>>
>
Prior to plastic infiltration, aldehyde fixed tissue must be completely
dehydrated in alcohol. Both alcohol as well as the plastic monomer
destroy cell membranes. From the viewpoint of optimal preservation this
is far inferior to anhydroprotectant infiltration and osmotic dehydration,
followed by vaccuum dessication. Some options such as plastination can be
eliminated from consideration immediately, due to their great inferiority
to alternative inexpensive preservation techniques.

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