Working Optimally with Serial Sections in Glycol Methacrylate Resin

Leitão, Carlos André Espolador

doi:10.1590/1678-4324-2018180103

Cited by 4 publications

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References 5 publications

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“…Section thicknesses of 4, 8, 12, and 16 μm were tested, with the 12-μm thickness providing the best quality for observing the morphological parameters of the plant fragments contained in the propolis samples. The sections were floated on distilled water and collected onto histological slides, as described by Leitão (2018). The slides containing the sections were dried on a hot plate to promote adhesion.…”

Section: Methods and Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methacrylate: An alternative fixing agent for identifying the botanical origin of propolis

2019

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PremiseA new technique was developed to identify the botanical origin of propolis, a resin‐like material made by bees by mixing saliva and beeswax with plant buds and exudates, using methacrylate for permanent slide preparation.Methods and ResultsPropolis samples were fixed in methacrylate to produce permanent slides. The anatomical structures of the plant fragments in the methacrylated propolis were compared with propolis slides prepared using conventional techniques that consist of propolis sediment obtained during a series of solvent reactions, filtration, and centrifugations, which cost a similar amount to produce. The techniques resulted in qualitative differences between the slides obtained. The methacrylated propolis sections allowed the detailed observation and identification of plant anatomical structures that were obscured in samples prepared using the conventional procedure. This clarity enabled the detailed evaluation of valuable taxon‐diagnostic characters in a permanent slide, which can also be used for histochemical tests.ConclusionsThe methacrylated embedding of propolis is an affordable technique that could be implemented as a routine laboratory procedure. This new technique enables the efficient determination of the botanical origin of propolis.

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Section: Methods and Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%