[Histonet] fish scales

[gayle.callis <@t> bresnan.net]

Are fish scales even calcified? If so decalcifying may not work. If keratin - softening with ammonia water, Mollifex(sp?), Nair which is alkaline. I would be more tempted to use GMA plastic to match hardness of scales.
I have a protocol for horse hooves. If you want will send privately. This is also in HistoLogic, author is Jane Chladny.  
Gayle Callis  
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: "Perry, Margaret" <Margaret.Perry <@t> sdstate.edu>
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:32:09 
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Subject: [Histonet] fish scales

We are trying to cut fish scales that have been decalcified.  They are chunking out when we try to cut them.  I think we need to soften the keratin and I looked in the archives for the right dilution of ammonium hydroxide to use.  One post said 5% the other said straight.  What dilution do you recommend?  I'm think it would probably be the same as what you use on toenails.

Margaret Perry HT(ASCP)
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