title: Comparison of processing and sectioning methodologies for arteries containing metallic stents.
abstract: The histological study of arteries with implanted metallic scaffolding devices, known as stents, remains a technical challenge. Given that the arterial response to stent implantation can sometimes lead to adverse outcomes, including the re-accumulation of tissue mass within the stent (or in-stent restenosis), overcoming these technical challenges is a priority for the advancement of research and development in this important clinical field. Essentially, the task is to section the stent-tissue interface with the least amount of disruption of tissue and cellular morphology. Although many methacrylate resin methodologies are successfully applied toward the study of endovascular stents by a variety of research laboratories, the exact formulations, as well as subsequent processing and sectioning methodology, remain largely coveted. In this paper, we describe in detail a methyl methacrylate resin-embedding methodology that can successfully be applied to tungsten carbide blade, as well as saw and grinding sectioning methods and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, we present a comparison of the two sectioning methodologies in terms of their effectiveness with regard to morphological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical analyses. This manuscript contains online supplemental material at http://www.jhc.org. Please visit this article online to view these materials.
authors.affiliation: ART, MLT, Core Pathology Laboratory, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street, Rm H2102, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Y 4W7. prippstein@ottawaheart.ca
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rippstein
authors.forename: Melanie K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boivin
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Veinot
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yong-Xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Human
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zilla
authors.forename: Edward R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D016591:Histocytological Preparation Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008867:Microtomy / Q000379:methods; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D015607:Stents; D016610:Tissue Embedding / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate