Lung fixation for the preservation of air spaces

PETER BLÜMLER; RODOLFO H. ACOSTA; ANGELIKA THOMAS-SEMM; STEFAN REUSS

EXPERIMENTAL LUNG RESEARCH

Año: 2004 vol. 30 p. 73 - 82

0190-2148

The procedures for the fixation of entire lungs of small rodents are presented together with various techniques used to verify the structural integrity of the lung tissue. To achieve this, the lungs/heart-complex was dissected out from rats and mice killed by ether overdose. The specimens were rinsed with isotonic saline and fixation solution under low vacuum conditions. After fixation, they were dried using alcohol and stored in an non-collapsed state (i.e., state of inhalation). Light- and scanning electron microscopy as well as magnetic resonance imaging using hyperpolarised 3He were employed to verify the intact state of the interalveolar septa and walls of smaller bronchi.