Fish scales are calcified. Depending on the type of fish, they may contain dentin, bone or both. My sources: Two zoology textbooks and also a Wikipedia entry, Scales (zoology) that reads easily. Even boneless fishes like sharks have calcified teeth and skin. John Kiernan Anatomy, UWO London, Canada = = = ----- Original Message ----- From: gayle.cal...@bresnan.net Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009 15:50 Subject: Re: [Histonet] fish scales To: "Perry, Margaret" <margaret.pe...@sdstate.edu>, histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu, "histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu" <histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
> 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.pe...@sdstate.edu> > Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:32:09 > To: > histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu<histonet@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) > _______________________________________________ > Histonet mailing list > Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu > http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet> > _______________________________________________ > Histonet mailing list > Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu > http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet