Use of hematoxylin stain to enhance evaluation of heart malformations in the fetal rat.
Fresh and formalin-fixed visceral microdissection techniques are valuable tools for studying cardiac teratology in the fetal rat, but are limited by the difficulty experienced in visualizing the minute structures needing to be evaluated. This paper describes a simple and quick staining technique used to enhance the examination procedure. A hematoxylin-saline mixture applied directly on endothelial-lined surfaces of the heart at different stages during microdissection greatly improved visualization of membrane-thin structures such as the pulmonary and aortic semilunar valves, right- and left-side atrioventricular valves, and atrial and ventricular septa. Hematoxylin staining of endocardial surfaces is a useful adjunct to the standard visceral microdissection technique.
Eggers
J
J
Operational Toxicology Branch, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio 45433, USA. Eggers@freewwweb.com
Channel
S
S
Graeter
L
L
Johnson
P
P
Macmahon
K
K
Sudberry
G
G
Warren
A
A
Latendresse
J
J
D000818:Animals; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000473:pathology*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000196:embryology*; D006416:Hematoxylin; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
D004396:Coloring Agents; D006416:Hematoxylin