I agree with Patsy. We did neonate rats and did not decal the skulls for the
first few days.  As the skull began to harden we would remove it very
carefully.  I also perfused some and others were placed in 70% EtOH with 2%
Glacial Acetic Acid.  The theory, and it worked, was the alcohol would cause
shrinkage and the GL AC AC would cause swelling.  This percentage caused a
balance and looked very good for cytoarchieture and no shrinkage.  If you
used formalin I would use Alcoholic formalin and Glacial Acetic to balance.
Good luck! Pam Marcum

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Patsy Ruegg [mailto:pruegg@colobio.com]
> Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2002 2:14 PM
> To: Matt McElwee
> Cc: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject: Re: skull decalcification
>
>
> are you sure y ou need to decalcify
> patsy
>
> Matt McElwee wrote:
>
> > Hi everyone.  Does anyone have a good way to decalcify mouse skulls that
> > doesn't shrink or otherwise alter the brain?  We want to section mouse
> > heads from neonates through 2 weeks of age.  I know that we'll have to
> > change the time that the brain is in the decalcifying solution,
> > depending on the age of the mouse, but if anyone can recommend a good
> > decalcifying solution or give any other advice, I'd really appreciate
> > it.
> > Thank you.
> > Matt
> >
> > Matt McElwee
> > Research Specialist
> > Department of Surgery
> > K4/617 Clinical Science Center
> > 600 Highland Avenue
> > Madison, WI 53792
> > (608) 263-7648
> > mcelwee@surgery.wisc.edu
>
>
>