title: Contribution to the study of the vasculature of submandibular and sublingual glands and lymph nodes of rats by corrosion cast technique combined with scanning electron microscopy.
abstract: The study of anatomical structures in their normal state allows the identification of pathological changes that can occur in them. Angiogenesis and the vasculature have been widely studied, mainly because of their association with the development of neoplasms. One of the methods applied for such purposes is the corrosion cast technique, which provides a copy of the vessels with normal as well as pathological structures. The replica of the vasculature provided by this technique allows the three-dimensional analysis of vessels by means of scanning electron microscopy. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate, by means of corrosion casts, the angioarchitecture of the submandibular and sublingual glands and lymph nodes. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the three structures have distinct vascular patterns. The corrosion cast technique can be employed in the study of the angioarchitecture of the submandibular and sublingual glands and lymph nodes, but requires specific precautions. The removal of the structures en bloc and the handling of the replicas with the aid of a stereoscopic magnifier reduce the risk of fractures.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Odontology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tíssiana Rachel
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Rossi-Schneider
authors.forename: Flaviana Dornela
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Verli
authors.forename: Liliane Soares
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Yurgel
authors.forename: Maria Antonieta Lopes
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Souza
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cherubini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D016319:Corrosion Casting; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D051381:Rats; D013361:Sublingual Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology*