Thank you John. I did a search and found a excellent explanation on different types of fish scales. Having not worked with the species nor their scales, I am now enlightened on scales. As for Margaret's problem, Jane Chladny had a protocol for horse hooves although she used very long processing schedule for these large specimens, and I did not include that information in this message. However, Margaret may want to try this method , a combination softening and decalcification. Jane also published this method with more discussion in Sakura's HistoLogic (check their website archives). Margaret can adjust her times in the following solution to fit her needs and size of scales.
Jane Chladny Horse Hoof Fixation/Decalcification/Softening. After complete fixation, we soften the hoof for 1-2 weeks ( adjust time to fit fish scales) in a solution of 10 ml Tween 80 in 100 ml 1N HCl. Following softening, the tissue is rinsed in water and processed. Happy Holidays Gayle M. Callis HTL/HT/MT(ASCP) From: John Kiernan [mailto:jkier...@uwo.ca] Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2009 9:51 PM To: gayle.cal...@bresnan.net Cc: Perry, Margaret; histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] fish scales 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
