Microincineration for the detection of titanium in tissue sections.

R.L. CABRINI; D.G. OLMEDO; V. TOMASI; M.B. GUGLIELMOTTI

JOURNAL OF HISTOTECHNOLOGY

NATL SOC HISTOTECHNOLOGY

Año: 2002 vol. 25 p. 75 - 78

0147-8885

Titanium (Ti) implants are increasingly popular due to their osseointegration and low toxicity properties. However, studies have shown that Ti ions are released and they may accumulate locally or systemically. We have previously shown the presence of Ti deposits in the liver, spleen, and lung of rats injected with Ti oxide (TiO2) intraperitoneally. The identification of these metal deposits in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained preparations may be impaired by deposits of carbon particles in tissues such as lungs. The aim of the present study was to adapt the microincineration technique to identify deposits in tissue sections. Tissue sections obtained from rat liver, spleen, and lung and human tissues were embedded in paraffin and adhered to high melting point Pyrex glass. The microincinerations were performed in an oven for ceramic at 1000°C for 30 min. The incinerated and H&E samples were analyzed by light microscopy. The deposits were chemically identified by EDX analysis. The histological analysis of the spodograms evidenced the presence of black particles. The deposits in spodograms corresponded to Ti as confirmed by EDX analysis. Microincineration allows simple visualization of metal deposits, Ti in particular, in tissues adjacent to or at a distance from hip prostheses or dental implants.