Application of Corrosion Cast Method for Scanning Electron Microscopic Observation of Mouse Embryo Vasculature

We described a method for making vascular corrosion casts of mouse embryos and applied it to study the vasculature of the whole body mouse embryo at 13.5 days (body length 9–11 mm) to 18.5 days (body length 18–23 mm), as well as that of its respective organs. The Mercox resin was perfused via the umbilical vessels using a special needle made by pulling the hematocrit tube (caliber 100–200 μm). The specimens were treated with 10% NaOH, rinsed, dried, coated with gold and observed under a scanning electron microscope. Visceral organs of a 13.5 day embryo were rather immature, but the liver vasculature was relatively well developed. In a 15.5 day embryo, the whole body vasculature was relatively well developed and the features of respective organs could be identified. In a 18.5 day embryo, almost all organs and extremities were well developed, but sensory organs in some parts showed immature development.