Optimal acetone to tissue ratio for dehydration of small specimens using the silicone plastination technique
CM Harris, SR Wilson, EM Darby, K Czaja,
The optimal acetone-to-tissue ratio was studied for the dehydration of tissues in preparation for silicone impregnation using only one acetone bath. The goal was to develop a time-efficient and acetone-sparing procedure. We hypothesized that increasing the acetone-to-tissue ratio would improve dehydration efficiency until a point is reached where further increases yield no significant improvement. Tissue samples collected from the left ventricular wall of the equine heart were used for acetone dehydration at -20 to -25 °C. Then, we assessed acetone dehydration completeness with a Multiple Comparisons Test that compared the initial and final tissue weight after acetone evaporation, revealing the time when only water remained in the tissue samples. Our findings indicate that ratios of 65:1 and above were equally effective in dehydrating the samples, while ratios of 60:1 and below retained significantly more water. The 65:1 ratio was identified as the optimal ratio, achieving full dehydration within four days, which is faster than traditional methods. The acetone at this ratio had continuing utility for beginning subsequent dehydrations where specimen production time is not a pressing concern. Although the 65:1 ratio was ideal for the small specimens tested, it may not be practical for larger specimens due to the large volume of acetone required. Further research will be needed to explore the optimal ratios for different tissue types and larger specimens. Overall, this study provides a beginning foundation for optimizing acetone use when rapid specimen processing is desired while minimizing waste.