In order to visualize the vessels of cadaver, i'm using colored latex. After filling the vessels latex remains fluid. During the dissection, fluid latex sometimes comes out of the cut vessels. How to harden the colored latex?
Is an old problem. There are new techniques. Try to contact Prof de Ruiter, LUMC, University Leiden or Prof R. Bleys University Utrecht. Ask for the techniques used by the gross-anatomy (boys) assistants.
Dear sir, why would you use latex ? Why not use resin metacrylates, with dye, that penetrates more smoothly, and can easily hardened from temperature ? ... Try Perspex-Tensol. According to the thickness of the liquid resin, you can choose on penetrating the capillary bed, or not...
Colored latex in plamts is rather rare, Argemone mexicana (Papaveraceae) latex is sulphur yellow.Most Euophorbias ,Ascelpiads etc have white milky latex.
Dear Maria, if you don't mind, which dyes do you use with resin metacrylates? What are the key matters of Perspex-Tensol usage? I would like hear about your experience.
Thank you
Dear Sedat,
latex-milk contains some amounts of ammoniac. Thus you should use/add some acetic acid for neutralising the ammoniac, either immediately before injection or later on by immersion. For leakages we use concentrated/pure acetic acid on a swab.
Thank you Prof. Brenner,
If you don't mind may i ask, how much acetic acid do you add for 100 ml latex?
Thank you again for your contribution
I used latex with fabric dyeing. There was not any problem. But I think that you must use a rope for connecting the cut vessels.
In the past I have carried out latex dissections. The latex, which I coloured with acrylic paint - red or blue, became flexibly solid when fixed along with the tissue in formol saline. It worked really well as it retained flexibility and allowed very neat dissections. More recently, although I have used the same brand of latex, it has not seemed to set as readily, although at the time I put this down to my impatience.
As I understand it the methacrylates set with time but become hard and are primarily useful for corrosion casts.
For m, this is a very interesting topic and I would find it really helpful if people who have experience in dissecting out latex impregnated structures gave an over-view of their technique or suggested a text.
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