There are many recent techniques used for the preservation of animal specimens, such as
plastination by the Elnady technique, which is the most cost-effective approach. However,
neither the computation of the shrinkage percentage in each phase nor its possible application in
histology has received enough scientific investigation. This study utilized tongue and skin samples
from six one-humped camels. That were weighed at various stages: before, during, and after the
plastination process. The shrinkage percentages are calculated at each stage. Additionally, the
samples were analyzed using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and compared with nonplastinated specimens. By the end of the plastination process, the tongue experienced a shrinkage of
about 19.87%, while the skin exhibited a shrinkage of 28.77%. The plastinated tissues did not
obstruct histological examination. Both light and electron microscopy analyses revealed structural
differences between the plastinated and non-plastinated samples, which were attributed to shrinkage.
Plastinated tissues proved effective for histological analysis, maintaining cellular structure despite
some shrinkage. These findings suggest that plastination can be a reliable method for preserving
tissue integrity while providing valuable insights for educational and research purposes. |
