[Histonet] Sorry, forgot to send to Histonet - Softening chitin - Drosophila heads)

[Gayle Callis]

>Rene is correct with this suggestion.
>
>One way to soften the chitin is to soak the totally fixed insect in 4% 
>phenol, alcoholic solution for 24 hours.  Beware, phenol is toxic.  Make 
>it up by melting the phenol, add 4 ml of this to 96 ml of 80% 
>alcohol).  Phil Oshel provided a processing schedule for small insects, I 
>have attached that to Anthony privately.
>
>At 10:15 AM 5/11/2007, you wrote:
>>Your problem resides in the fact that you have to "soften" the chitin 
>>before processing the heads, otherwise the chitin cannot be infiltrated 
>>by the paraffin, causing the tears you are having.
>>   Soften the chitin first and process afterwards.
>>   René J.

Gayle Callis HTL, HT, MT(ASCP)
Research Histopathology Supervisor
Veterinary Molecular Biology
Montana State University
Bozeman MT 59717