Anatechs Propar and Richard Allan's Clearite 3 work very well for bone. 

Make sure you clear long enough - I tend to extend times in these reagents
when processing bone, to insure total clearing.   

The trick is to use xylene in the first clearing station (this clears water
very well or has a better tolerance for same), then either of these
substitutes in second clearing station.   This tends to restore color to
bone, and not harden bone excessively.  Have also maintained fresher
solutions of subtitutes to insure good clearing.  If you insist on NO
xylene, the substitutes work fine.  Just be aware of the pitfalls.  

Never worked with terpene/limonenes, the smell creates instant, major
nauseous response. 

Two mounting medias work very well with substitutes (there are probably
others available).   Shandon and Richard Allan both have excellent
products.  Always make sure you have ALL water cleared from sections.  If
your last absolute alcohol has any pink color in it, you have water
carryover that drifts into your substitute, a real disaster and a foggy
slide.  Rotate your dehydrants more often to prevent this. 

Diligence will pay off.      

 


Gayle Callis
MT,HT,HTL(ASCP)
Histopathology Supervisor
Veterinary Molecular Biology - Marsh Lab
Montana State University - Bozeman
19th and Lincoln St
Bozeman MT 59717-3610

406 994-6367
406 994-4303 (FAX)