Plastination of Whole Animal Preparations following Histochemistry: in Situ Localization of the Enzyme Acetylcholinesterase

A method for whole animal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry was combined with standard S10 plastination. Resultant whole or partial animal specimens prepared in this manner were superior to whole animal specimens processed for AChE histochemistry and stored in formalin. The results compared favorably with those attained with isolated organ or tissue whole mounts while preserving and enhancing existing anatomical relationships. The technique was found to be useful in studying peripheral autonomic innervation by AChE histochemistry, in teaching specific anatomic details to laboratory personnel, and was suggested to be of potential use with other histochemical or immunonistochemical techniques in a variety of small animals, organs, or tissues.