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Page 4 of 10 Polykandriotis et al. Plast Aesthet Res 2018;5:37 I http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2347-9264.2018.52

Figure 3. Fibrin matrix within experimental chamber including an arteriovenous loop: at the time of implantation the gel matrix is covering
the AV-loop, which is fixed with 4 pins to prevent discloation of the loop

Figure 4. Fibrin matrix within experimental chamber including an arteriovenous loop: at day 12 the matrix is showing red colour as a sign
of vascularization

corrosion cast technique [Figure 5]. For this purpose the animals aorta and inferior vena cava were exposed
through a median incision from the xiphoid process to the pubic symphysis. The aorta was then cannulated
through a 24-gauge catheter and the inf. vena cava was severed. After cannulation of the aorta the vascular
system of the rat was rinsed with approximately 200 mL of heparinized Ringer solution (100 IU/mL) under
a hydrostatic pressure between 80 and 100 mmHg and until fluid escaping from the severed inf. vena cava
was clear. Perfusion of the caudal vascular system with 20 mL of a methylmethacrylate resin in a mixture
of 4:1 prepolymerized oligomere to methylmethacrylate monomer (Aldrich Chemie, Germany) and benzoyl
peroxide as a catalyst (Mercox, Ladd Research Industries, Burlington, VT) was then performed to gain
vascular replicas, which could be investigated with a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition to
better detect the phenomena of luminal sprouting from the central vascular axis, microdissection under a
[28]
microscope was undertaken as a modification of a method described previously .