Dissection bones

Fix the spinal cord in the intact vertebral column using Bouin s fixative, either by immersion after dissection or by transcardial perfusion prior to dissection. The bone of the vertebrae will eventually decalcify in Bouin s (requiring 2-4 weeks), or after 24 h, the sample can be transferred to decalcifying solution overnight. 

Contractile properties in rodents can be measured either in vitro in a dissected muscle or in vivo in an intact preparation with an anesthetized animal (e.g., (19-20)). Measurements made under isometric conditions are perhaps most common and use the most straightforward setup. The addition of servomotors for dynamic control of muscle length allows simulation of dynamic conditions (eccentric, isotonic, etc.) that may be modified by disease or other processes (22, 23). For in vitro studies, the muscle is anchored by ligating the tendon (origin) to a support, for in vivo studies, the bone (femur) is clamped to prevent movement. The other tendon (insertion) is then coupled to a force transducer. In both cases, a recording electrode is also placed in contact with the muscle to record the compound action potential, and a stimulating electrode is used to stimulate the nerve or the muscle, as described below. 

A 32-year-old woman who had seen a traditional American bone-setter for shoulder problems was subjected to a sudden thrusting of the head upward and to the right (170). She had neck discomfort immediately afterwards. The pain persisted for 6 days, when she noted vertigo and left-sided ataxia. An MRI scan showed acute infarction in the middle left cerebellar hemisphere and vermis. An MRA scan showed left vertebral artery dissection with a probable embolus. 

Expose the organ of Corti by removing the cochlear capsule from base to apex (in older animals remove apical portion of the cochlear capsule). Clasp the basal portion of the sensory epithelium and unwind the organ of Corti together with the lateral wall in one piece. In the murine cochlea, the bone grows progressively harder so that preparations of the postnatal day 2 or 3 are most convenient to dissect. 

McDormell, D.P. (1997) Dissection of the molecular mechanism of action of GW5638, a novel estrogen receptor ligand, provides insights into the role of estrogen receptor in bone. Endocrinology, 138, 3901-3911. 

Bone samples for aluminium analysis have been taken from the iliac crest at the time of biopsy or at autopsy (Alfrey et al.. 1976 Maloney et al., 1982) and the specimen placed in an Al-free plastic container. Bone for histological staining is fixed in 10% buffered formalin (Maloney et al., 1982). Crapper et al. (1976) analyzed brain samples from specific areas of the cerebral cortex and from subcortical area. Alfrey et al. (1976) analyzed brain samples from frontal cortex. Whole brain as well as white and grey matter were analyzed. A description of how the specimen was handled before analysis was not provided. Crapper et al. (1976) transported and stored brain samples frozen in Al-free plastic containers and performed dissection from the frozen specimen in a dust-controlled room. All instruments and gloves were rinsed in aluminium-free water. At frequent intervals, this entire procedure was performed on standard homogenized freeze-dried brain powder to ensure little or negligible aluminium contamination. 

Samples of animal products may be processed whole to determine their radionuclide content, dissected to distinguish radionuclide concentrations in various organs, or separated to analyze only edible portions. Questions may arise about what constitutes the edible sample portion, which differs among persons and population groups. These distinctions affect radiological health protection monitoring because metabolic parameters result in accumulation of radionuclides in specific organs or tissue, such as radiostrontium in bone and radioiodine in the thyroid (Cember 1996). 

Using small pointed scissors, cut the bone lengthways on either side of the cranium and then gently lift away the top of the skull taking care to cut any connective tissue to prevent tearing the brain tissue Wash the brain frequently with ice-cold aCSF during this dissection. 

For bone marrow harvesting, sterile dissection tweezers, scissors, scalpels, and 1-mL syringe fitted with a 25G -gauge needle. 

Euthanize mice using a lethal dose of isofluorane and immediately remove femurs from hind legs using sterile dissection tools. It is important to remove and discard all the tissue around the bones to avoid further contamination of the macrophage culture with fibroblasts. Femurs can be kept in cold DMEM until further processing (not more than 1 h is preferable). 

Dissect four bones (femurs tibias) from bone marrow neutrophil donor mice, put in 50 ml tubes containing sterile PBS, and place on ice. [Note One mouse (four bones femurs tibias) should yield over 50 million BM cells. If more BM cells from one mouse are desired, two additional bones (humerus) may be also used.]... 

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