I am having a small problem processing and sectioning yolk-sac marine fish
larvae.  My problem is this:  The larvae have already been fixed in 10%
buffered formalin.  My processing schedule is fine for larval tissues,
however, with the high lipid content of the yolk-sac, the embedded fish
doesn't section well, because the yolk-sac is hard and brittle, thus
deforming the good parts of each section.  Is there any way around this?  I
realise that other fixatives could be used, however I stress that these are
already fixed in formalin.  I thought of cutting off the yolk-sac, but this
is much too tedious and potentially damaging to the internal organs of the
larvae.  Thank you in advance for your time, and advice.

Chris Hendry
Graduate Student
University of New Brunswick/
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Biological Station
St. Andrews, NB E0G 2X0 Canada
(506) 529-8854 Phone
(506) 529-5862 Fax
e-mail: hendryc@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
URL: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/9440

To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is
research.