Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2019, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (31): 5041-5045.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.1334

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An en bloc paraffin embedding method for serial sectioning of carotid atherosclerotic plaque

Cao Jingli1, 2, Marina S. Ferguson3, Sun Jie3, Zhang Dong1, Liu Li1, Li Zirui1, Wang Yajie1, Sui Binbin1, Shen Mi1, Gao Peiyi1, 4, Thomas S. Hatsukami3, Zhao Xihai5, Yuan Chun1, 3, 5   

  • Received:2019-05-09 Online:2019-11-08 Published:2019-11-08
  • Contact: Yuan Chun, Professor, Doctoral supervisor, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China; Vascular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, WA, USA; Center for Biomedical Imaging Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
  • About author:Cao Jingli, MD, Research assistant, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Disease, Beijing 100070, China
  • Supported by:

    Funding: the National Natural Science Foundation International (Regional) Cooperation and Exchange Project, No. 81361120402 (to GPY)

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Carotid atherosclerotic plaque with the length of about 3 cm completely embedding into paraffin block is a key step.
OBJECTIVE: To clarify a method to embed carotid atherosclerotic plaque en bloc in paraffin.
METHODS: Carotid atherosclerotic plaque was removed from the carotid endanerectomy at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University. In order to facilitate the comparison between histological slices from serial sectioning and MRI, we need to embed carotid atherosclerotic plaque en bloc in paraffin.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: With the guidance of the University of Washington Vascular Imaging Lab, we had established a simple embedding method according to the practice in our lab. With the method, we successfully overcame the technical difficulties in the en bloc embedding of carotid atherosclerotic plaque, which provides a reference for researchers with similar work needs.

Key words: carotid atherosclerotic plaque, magnetic resonance imaging, paraffin embedding, embedding molds, serial section, atherosclerosis, culprit plaque, stroke, stable plaque, unstable plaque

CLC Number: