Technical improvements in corrosion casting of small specimens: a study on mesonephric tubules and vessels of chicken embryos.

The injection technique for corrosion casting of small, embryonic material can be improved by using a "chemical ligature" (cyanoacrylate). With this simple method, leakage of the resin at the injection site is prevented and the mechanical stability of the cannula-vessel coupling is improved. The blood vascular system of chicken embryos as small as Hamburger-Hamilton stage 24 (approximately 4.5 days of incubation) has successfully been injected using this procedure. Corrosion casts of the mesonephric tubular system have been made in a similar manner. Additionally, a simple way for secure transport of the fragile casts by immersion in 10% gelatin is suggested.