Daniela BOTERO GONZALEZ, Marcela AQUDELO

Comparison of macerations with dermestid larvae, potassium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite in Wistar rat crania

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the most effective maceration method to remove soft tissue withoutaltering bone tissue conformation.Methods: A comparison was made between maceration with insects and chemical maceration performed on heads of Wistarrats. The sample consisted of 18 biomodels, six of which were macerated by dermestid larvae and the remaining 12 divided intotwo groups for chemical maceration, one with potassium hydroxide and the other with sodium hypochlorite. In chemical maceration, 1%, 5% and 10% concentrations were used with varying exposure times and temperature.Results: The ideal method for soft tissue maceration, preserving all bone components, was shown to be maceration with insects.Potassium hydroxide was effective in the removal of soft tissue. However, being a highly corrosive chemical agent, it altered theintegrity of the bone tissue. Sodium hypochlorite did not meet the maceration objective.Conclusion: This research is relevant in its contribution to discussions on appropriate maceration techniques for small bonestructures.

PDF

___

1. Gibb T. Equipping a diagnostic laboratory In: Gibb T, editor. Contemporary insect diagnostics. Waltham (MA): Academic Press Elsevier; 2014. p. 9–50.
2. Gage GJ, Kipke DR, Shain W. Whole animal perfusion fixation for rodents. J Vis Exp 2012;65:3564.
3. Ajayi A, Edjomariegwe O, Iselaiye OT. A review of bone preparation techniques for anatomical studies. Malaya Journal of Biosciences 2016;3:76–80.
4. Ator GA, Andrews JC, Maxwell DS. Preparation of the human skull for skull base anatomic study. Skull Base Surg 1993;3:1–6.
5. Couse T, Connor M. A comparison of maceration techniques for use in forensic skeletal preparations. Journal of Forensic Investigation 2015;3:1–6.
6. King C, Birch W. Assessment of maceration techniques used to remove soft tissue from bone in cut mark analysis. J Forensic Sci 2015;60:124–35.
7. Miller DM, Tarpley J. An automated double staining procedure for bone and cartilage. Biotech Histochem 1996;71:79–83.
8. Renaud R, Brettes P, Castanier C, Loubiere R. Placental bilharziasis. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 1972;10:24–30.
9. Gelfand M, Ross CM, Blair DM, Castle WM, Weber MC. Schistosomiasis of the male pelvic organs. Severity of infection as determined by digestion of tissue and histologic methods in 300 cadavers. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1970;19:779–84.
10. Gelfand M, Ross DM, Blair DM, Weber MC. Distribution and extent of schistosomiasis in female pelvic organs, with special reference to the genital tract, as determined at autopsy. Am J Trop Med 1971;20:846–9.
11. Boyde A. Scanning electron microscopy of bone. In: Idris, AI, editor. Bone research protocols. Methods in molecular biology. New York: Humana Press; 2012. p. 365–400.
12. Dutta A, Saunders WP. Comparative evaluation of calcium hypochlorite and sodium hypochlorite on soft-tissue dissolution. J Endod 2012;38:1395–8.
13. Fuente del Campo A, Martinez Elizondo M, Melloni Magnelli L, Salazar Valadez A, Saavedra Ontiveros A. Craniofacial development in rats with early resection of the zygomatic arch. Plast Reconstr Surg 1995;95:486–95.
14. Mann RW, Berryman HE. A method for defleshing human remains using household bleach. J Forensic Sci 2012;57:440–2.
15. Steadman DW, Diantonio LL, Wilson JJ, Sheridan KE, Tammariello SP. The effects of chemical and heat maceration techniques on the recovery of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA from bone. J Forensic Sci 2006;51:11–7.
16. Hildebrand M Dry skeletons. Hildebrand M (ed). Anatomical preparations. Berkeley (CA): University of California Press; 1968. p.16–42.