[Annelida] Dried material

[Jean-Marc Gagnon]

Dear Daniel, Elena et al.,

We have been using a similar method quite successfully for a long time.

We use Decon* Contrad* 70 biodegradable Liquid Detergent. 

We soak the specimen in a diluted detergent solution for about a day or until the specimen has regained it "normal", hydrated shape. 
We then rinse well but gently with distilled water (at least twice). Make sure all detergent is out of tissue by letting specimen sit in distilled water for a bit of time, depending on size of specimen.
The specimen is then fixed in formaldehyde 2-3% for a day and finally preserved in 70-80% ETOH.

Of course, none of that will preserve your tissue for future DNA analysis :-(

I hope this helps.

Jean-Marc

Jean-Marc Gagnon, Ph.D.
Chief Collection manager / Gestionnaire en chef des collections
Invertebrate Collections / Collections des invertébrés
Canadian Museum of Nature / Musée canadien de la nature
P.O. Box 3443, Stn "D" / C.P. 3443, Succ. D
Ottawa, ON Canada K1P 6P4
T: 613-364-4066 / F: 613-364-4027
E/C: jmgagnon from mus-nature.ca
http://www.nature.ca
 
P Thanks for thinking of the environment before  printing! /
            Merci de penser à l'environnement avant d'imprimer! 

-----Original Message-----
From: annelida-bounces from oat.bio.indiana.edu [mailto:annelida-bounces from oat.bio.indiana.edu] On Behalf Of Daniel Martin
Sent: 25 février 2009 03:43
To: <Annelida list
Subject: Re: [Annelida] Dried material

Dear Elena and worm lovers,

A colleague working with insects told me that a good method to rehydrate 
dried samples consists on using a few drops (or even only one, depending 
on the size of the animal) of a common dish washing soap mixed with 
distilled water. The sample must be monitored very close, as the soap 
may destroy the most delicate tissues. I have not yet used that method, 
although I will try soon, as I also have an old, dried sample and the OK 
from the museum curator.

I will let you know the results as soon as done, but if you decide to 
try first, please, share the results too ;-) .

Wormly,

Dani.

-- 
Dr. Daniel Martin

Scientific Researcher
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)

Director
Centre d'Estudis Avancats de Blanes (CEAB)

-> Carrer d'acces a la Cala Sant Francesc 14
-> 17300 Blanes (Girona), Catalunya (Spain)
-> Tel: (34) 972336101
-> Fax: (34) 972337806
-> WWW Institutional: http://www.ceab.csic.es
-> WWW Personal:      http://www.ceab.csic.es/~dani/

_______________________________________________
Annelida mailing list
Post: Annelida from net.bio.net
Help/archive: http://www.bio.net/biomail/listinfo/annelida
Resources: http://www.annelida.net