María Revelo-Cueva; Micaela Benítez; Nicolás E. Ottone & Ana Belén Toaquiza

Since ancient times, humans have sought to preserve organs, progressively developing more sophisticated techniques. Within this framework, the Elnady technique was evaluated as an alternative for the anatomical preservation of animal organs in the educational setting of the Animal Anatomy Laboratory at the Universidad Central del Ecuador. The study involved 14 canine organs and one bovine organ, previously fixed in 10 % formalin for a period of 3 to 4 years. The methodology adhered to the original steps of the technique—fixation, dehydration, impregnation, and curing—with a key modification: the substitution of acetone with ethyl alcohol during the dehydration phase. Furthermore, the impregnation time in glycerin was adjusted based on the organ’s weight, and the staining process was omitted to assess the preservation of natural coloration. The results demonstrated that the organs maintained satisfactory macroscopic characteristics for six months, including a neutral odor, soft texture, and consistency ranging from normal to firm. Weight loss remained below 20 %, which is considered acceptable for organs dehydrated with ethyl alcohol at ambient temperature. Technical evaluation using a rubric yielded a score of 17 out of 20 points, classifying the technique as highly efficient and sustainable. The study emphasized that the use of ethyl alcohol prevented discoloration—a known limitation of the original method. However, certain organs, such as the liver and spleen, exhibited darkening and reduced flexibility. Thus, the Elnady technique emerges as a safe and viable option, particularly for institutions with limited resources. Nevertheless, further research is required involving a broader range of species and organ types, as well as histological analyses to assess long- term cellular preservation.

REVELO-CUEVA, M.; BENÍTEZ, M.; E. OTTONE, N. E. & TOAQUIZA, A. B. Use of the Elnady technique for medium-term preservation of animal organs in the animal anatomy laboratory at the Universidad Central del Ecuador. Int. J. Morphol., 44(2):503- 509, 2026.