Digestibility of elastic fibers by elastase in semifine and fine sections as a function of fixation mode and embedding media

As a preparatory study for investigations upon disorders of elastic fibers, the paper compares in a systematic manner the influences which different fixation agents and embedding media have on the digestibility of elastic fibers. The results establish that the fixation agents including osmium tetroxide have less influence than have the embedding media. Previous oxydation with periodic acid does not enhance the digestibility. Epoxyresin-embedded material proved to be affectable by elastase, whereas glycolmethacrylate-embedded samples resisted digestion.