[Histonet] removing a coverslip

[N Fournier]

Hi everyone, 

I need to remove a coverslip from tissue that was stained previously for GAD67, so that I can counterstain the tissue with cresyl violet but also retain the previous immunostain. What is the best method to remove a coverslip ? The slides are Superfrost Plus, the tissue is rat brain, and mounting medium is DPX or Entellan (depending on experiment).  One recommendation I received was to leave the slides in xylene for several days and try to pry of the tissue that way.  I would think that prolonged xylene exposure might influence the staining of my tissue and secondly it seems to be taking forever. 

If the xylene method is the best then I do not mind waiting, but I really need to get this tissue counterstained ASAP. So any recomendations are welcomed.  And lastly, once the coverslip has been removed do I need to run the slides through descending alcohols and water before I start my cresyl violet staining protocol? If this is required, does anyone have handy the concentrations of alcohol and how long the slides are to be kept in these solutions? 

I really appreciate the help,

Neil