Comparison of Processing and Sectioning Methodologies for Arteries Containing Metallic Stents

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 re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry 2006-06, Vol.54 (6), p.673-681
Main Authors: Rippstein, Peter, Black, Melanie K, Boivin, Marie, Veinot, John P, Ma, Xiaoli, Chen, Yong-Xiang, Human, Paul, Zilla, Peter, O'Brien, Edward R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acrylic Resins
Coronary Vessels - pathology
Histocytochemistry
Histocytological Preparation Techniques - methods
Humans
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Microtomy - methods
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Stents
Tissue Embedding - methods
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Summary: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 resinembedding 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.
ISSN:0022-1554
1551-5044
DOI:10.1369/jhc.5A6824.2006