I applaud your use of decalcification endpoint testing!! Excellent technic.




>
>We also use 5% Nitric Acid routinely for decalcification as its cheap,rapid
>and does little damage to tisses as long as you keep an eye on the
>endpoint. The endpoint is easily measured by dispensing about 5ml of the
>decal solution form the pot containing the decalcifying bone. Add
>concentrated ammoninia solution to this until the decal solution turns
>alkaline using litmus paper. If calcium is still present the decal solution
>will turn cloudy. When it no longer turns cloudy the endpoint is reached.
>For larger pieces of bone when you are approaching the endpoint you may
>have to leave it in the decal for longer to be conviced you have reached
>the endpoint.
>
>Gerard Spoelstra
>Biomedical and Veterinary Science
>Murdoch University
>Western Australia
>
>At 10:50 AM 7/12/00 -0800, you wrote:
>>If all else fails, you could try clearing in cedarwood oil (See Culling
>>for method). This takes a long time, but it leaves the decalcified tissue
>>much more cuttable than xylene or even chloroform.
>>
>>Lesley Weston.
>>
>>
>>
>>On Thu, 7 Dec 2000, Neuropathology wrote:
>>
>>> Keep in mind that you may have completed decacification.  Your cutting
>>> problems might be reduced by treating with something like mollifex or
>fabric
>>> conditioner.
>>> Andy Shand
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Mack, Jacquie <Jacquie.Mack@CLS.ab.ca>
>>> To: Histonet information (E-mail) <Histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2000 4:50 PM
>>> Subject: decalcification process
>>> 
>>> 
>>> >
>>> > Does anyone have any suggestions regarding decalcifying cortical bone?
> We
>>> > have a mandible here we've been trying to decalcify for weeks.  17%
>formic
>>> > acid, then RDO (a commercial rapid decalcified).  We are still
>>> encountering
>>> > a lot of problems cutting sections on our blocks!
>>> >
>>> > JACQUIE MACK
>>> > TECH II MAIN LAB FMC
>>> > HISTOPATHOLOGY
>>> > PH: 670-1574
>>> > e mail:  Jacquie.Mack@CLS.ab.ca
>>> >
>>> >
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>
>>
>>
> 
>
>
>
Gayle Callis
Veterinary Molecular Biology
Montana State University
Bozeman MT 59717-3610
406 994-4705
406 994-4303