INTRODUCTION: The flexibility of cadavers conserved using Thiel's embalming method remains unexplained. We aimed to perform microscopic comparison of muscle and tendon fibres from fresh cadavers (FC), formaldehyde-preserved cadavers (FPC) and cadavers conserved by Thiel's method (TC). METHODS: Muscle and tendon biopsies performed on FC, FPC and TC were conditioned and stained by Masson's trichrome, Sirius red and Ramon y Cajal, then studied under optical microscope. Alignment and integrity of the muscle and tendon fibres were studied. RESULTS: We observed a modification of the muscle fibres in all specimens from TC, regardless of the type of staining used. The muscle fibres taken from FC and FPC were relatively well conserved, both in terms of alignment and integrity. We did not observe any modification of collagen in either muscle or tendon fibres. CONCLUSIONS: The considerable fragmentation of the muscle proteins, probably caused by certain corrosive chemicals, (e.g. boric acid) present in Thiel's embalming solution, could explain the suppleness of the TC. However, we cannot exclude the possibility of alterations in tendon or muscle collagen, since the experimental methods we used, did not allow for the study of collagen ultrastructure.
INTRODUCTION: The flexibility of cadavers conserved using Thiel's embalming method remains unexplained. We aimed to perform microscopic comparison of muscle and tendon fibres from fresh cadavers (FC), formaldehyde-preserved cadavers (FPC) and cadavers conserved by Thiel's method (TC). METHODS: Muscle and tendon biopsies performed on FC, FPC and TC were conditioned and stained by Masson's trichrome, Sirius red and Ramon y Cajal, then studied under optical microscope. Alignment and integrity of the muscle and tendon fibres were studied. RESULTS: We observed a modification of the muscle fibres in all specimens from TC, regardless of the type of staining used. The muscle fibres taken from FC and FPC were relatively well conserved, both in terms of alignment and integrity. We did not observe any modification of collagen in either muscle or tendon fibres. CONCLUSIONS: The considerable fragmentation of the muscle proteins, probably caused by certain corrosive chemicals, (e.g. boric acid) present in Thiel's embalming solution, could explain the suppleness of the TC. However, we cannot exclude the possibility of alterations in tendon or muscle collagen, since the experimental methods we used, did not allow for the study of collagen ultrastructure.
Authors: Mehdi Benkhadra; François Lenfant; Wolfgang Nemetz; Friedrich Anderhuber; Georg Feigl; Jean Fasel Journal: Anesth Analg Date: 2008-01 Impact factor: 5.108
Authors: Mehdi Benkhadra; Julien Gérard; Denis Genelot; Pierre Trouilloud; Claude Girard; Friedrich Anderhuber; Georg Feigl Journal: Surg Radiol Anat Date: 2010-07-28 Impact factor: 1.246
Authors: Gesine H Seeber; Marc P Wilhelm; Gunther Windisch; Hans-Joachim Appell Coriolano; Omer C Matthijs; Philip S Sizer Journal: Int J Sports Phys Ther Date: 2017-08