Non-Perishable Museum Specimens: Redefined Plastination Technique

Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, Kothiwal Dental College and Research Center, Mora Mustaqueem, Kanth Road, Moradabad, U.P.-244001, India Objective: The study was conducted to overcome specific limitations of formalin-preserved specimens at negligible cost. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on museum specimens collected from the Department of General Anatomy, Kothiwal Dental College. All the collected specimens were plastinated employing previously utilized laboratory consumables, such as disposable culture plates, and xylene, mixed together in a fixed proportion to form a homogeneous paste. After complete dehydration in alcohol, clearing was done in acetone followed by impregnation with reactive polymer under vacuum which was created with a modified suction apparatus. Curing of the specimen was done under direct sunlight. Results: This technique has proved its advantages over formalin-preserved specimens as it has produced dry, life-like specimens. The only limitation of our technique was that it has showed marked shrinkage after curing. Conclusion: We have devised a new and cost-effective method of plastination that involves no specialized equipment and prepares plastinated specimens that retain much of their natural features in a life-like manner.