Five rats from each group were sacrificed by ether inhalation
2 weeks after the surgeries. Their pharynx, larynx,
and esophagus were excised. Tissue samples were examined
for gross abnormalities, photographed, and then fixed
in 10% buffered formalin for 24 hours. The formalin-fixed
tissue samples were embedded in paraffin blocks to maintain
the tissue orientation for histopathological analysis.
Then, 5-μm-thick tissue sections were mounted onto glass
slides and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for
histopathological examination.