Use of Low Viscosity Expoxy Plastic Casts to Study Mammillary Core and Mammillary Knob Organization of Avian Eggshells

A technique has been developed to facilitate scanning electron microscopic analysis of eggshell mammillary formations with minimal physical disturbance to the shell. The method employs a low viscosity epoxy resin to make a negative replica of the mammillary surface. The cast can be viewed after decalcification using the scanning electron microscope without further physical manipulation which may cause structural artifacts.