Room Temperature Plastination of Whole and Dissected Guinea Pigs in Ghana

Abstract: In a previous study the standard S10 procedure was modified by using locally available silicone paste and hardener in Ghana as substitutes to the standard ones to plastinate three types of fishes (Tilapia, Bonytongue and Catfish)by fixing at room temperature, dehydrating and impregnating at 4oC and curing at room temperature. The plastinated fishes retained their general shapes and their anatomical structures were preserved. In this study the modified S10 protocol was further amended to plastinateWhole Guinea Pigs (WGPs) and Dissected Guinea Pigs (DGPs) by fixating, dehydrating, impregnating and curingthe samples at room temperature. Browning occurred in the heart, liver, lungs, intestines, stomach, bladder and skin of the DGPs. The hairs of the plastinated WGPs and DGPs were visually not different in colour and texture from that of the live animals. The weights of the WGPs increased by 35.8 % at fixation but decreased by 58.2 % at curing and 81.5% after storage of the plastinates for 120 days. The plastinated WGPs were solid and stable when placed on their four feet on a flat surface. This study showed that it is possible to use the modified S10 protocol to perform room temperature plastination. This would reduce the cost of producing plastinated specimen in Ghana. Transporting the plastinated specimen would also be easy and cheap, and they can easily be stored. The addition of a suitable base to the impregnating solution would recolourise the dissected specimen and improve the colour of the final product