Enzyme Clearing of Alcian Blue Stained Whole Small Vertebrates for Demonstration of Cartilage

摘要: Preparation of small vertebrates cleared after alcian blue staining cartilage is facilitated by trypsin digestion. Specimens are fixed in formation, washed, skinned, and eviscerated. After a solution acetic acid-alcohol for 24-48 hours, they transferred to water through graded alcohols. Excess removed over period up three weeks changes every 2-3 days 1% approximately one-third-saturated sodium borate. Bony tissues may be stained this alizarin red S 0.5% KOH. bleached if necessary dehydrated KOH-glycerine mixtures storage glycerine. Since alcohol treatment addition formalin fixation does not affect results with method, it should useful researchers who want study the or cartilaginous skeletons museum specimens, which routinely stored alcohol.