Comparison of color, odor and textur properties of the fresh and prepared rat brains by the methods of alkyd resin.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate to similarity between the fresh rat brain tissue and the rat brain tissue prepared with alkyd resin and applicability of alkid resin method in rat brain tissue. For this purpose the fresh rat brain tissue and the rat brains prepared with alkyd resin is compared in terms of color, smell, processability, hardness, elasticity and adhesiveness. In this study 54 male wistar albino rats were used. The rats were anesthetized by xylazine (5-8 mg/kg) + ketamine (75-90 mg/kg) with either IP or IM injection. The rats (n:20) were anesthetized and the abdominal wall was incised, Aorta abdominalisis were cut, blood was removed and brains removed. The rats used in alkyd resin method (n:34), anesthetized, blood was removed and a cranial and caudal catheter was applied to the Aorta abdominalis and Spence's cadaver fixation fluid was injected to Aorta abdominalis and cadavers fixated. 4 of theese rats were fixated after giving the desired positions to produce materials for the demonstration. The samples to be treated by the alkyd resin method were passed through the steps of washing step, purification step, embedding step, pre-drying stage, impregnation step and final drying step respectively. Following, color values (L *, a *, b *) and texture properties (hardness, elasticity and adhesiveness) were compared between the fresh rat brain tissue and the rat brain tissue prepared with alkyd resin. Materials prepared by both methods, compared with each other in terms of odor and processability (incision) in a panel. As a result of the panel, alkyd resin used materials were found as odorless and processable. In terms of color values, alkyd resin samples were more yellow while fresh samples were more red and white. It was determined that the alkyd resin samples were harder and elastic than the fresh tissue, but alkyd resin samples did not have a adhesiveness value. In this study, the similarity between the fresh rat brain tissue and the rat brain tissue prepared with alkyd resin was demonstrated. Alkyd resin method can be use for fixation in rat brain tissue and obtained materials with alkyd resin method can be use as exhibition and educational purposes. Key Words: Alkyd resin, Cadaver, Fresh rat brain, Nervous System, Rat