Preservation fluids of heritage anatomical specimens — a challenge for modern science. Studies of the origin, composition and microbiological contamination of old museum collections

Abstract

AbstractAnatomical museums preserve specimens of great historical value and undiscovered scientific potential. However, frequently these collections lack documentation of the techniques of preparation and the composition of preservative substances (conservation principles). This poses a huge problem for the care and preservation of these materials, more so because understanding this issue requires knowledge of fundamentals from different scientific disciplines. The aim of the research was to obtain information about the composition of substances used to preserve historic specimens, as well as to conduct a microbiological assessment of the specimens to detect possible factors causing their deterioration. Furthermore, we wanted to fill an existing gap in the literature, as there is a lack of reports on analytical methods that could be successfully applied by anatomists involved in the daily care of museum collections in human anatomy departments. The starting point was the analysis of the sources and history of the collections, on which basis the choice of research methods was made. Methods based on simple chemical reactions and specialised methods (such as gas chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy) were used in the analyses of the composition of fluids. Microbiological analyses were based on culture and isolation methods, analysis of microscopy slides and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry analysis. As a result of these analyses, some components of the preservative mixtures and their concentrations were determined. The presence of methanol, ethanol, formaldehyde and glycerol was detected, among other chemicals. The concentrations of these substances were different between the samples and their determination required the use of a variety of methods suitable for the individual components of the preservative mixture. In microbiological tests, both bacteria and fungi were isolated from swabs taken from anatomical specimens. The bacterial flora was less numerous than the fungal flora. Among the bacteria, environmental Gram‐positive Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis and a rare bacterium of the Cupriavidus genus were isolated, whereas among the fungal organisms, the yeast‐like fungi Candida boidinii and Geotrichum silvicola as well as mould fungi Penicillium sp. and Fusarium sp. were detected. However, the microscopic evaluation showed a greater diversity of microorganisms, which may be related to the fact that many environmental bacteria cannot be cultured using classical methods, but can be observed under the microscope. The results of the research made it possible to draw conclusions about the mutual influence of physical, chemical, and microbiological factors on the condition of historical anatomical specimens. In the course of the research, information was obtained on the processes which could have taken place during the storage of these collections. Maintaining the integrity of a container housing a preserved anatomical specimen has a major impact on maintaining the concentration of preservative fluid and keeping the specimen environment sterile. Many conservation procedures for historical specimens carried out nowadays pose a risk of destroying valuable specimens, as well as a health risk for the person carrying out the work. The exploration of the topic of conservation of anatomical specimens, especially those that lack documentation of their origin, is a key issue in current research on historical collections of anatomical specimens.