01-04-03
Dear Jana,
You can anaesthetise them by adding a few drops of clove oil to the seawater
you will be dissecting them in. It works well, is very inexpensive and is
easy to get. I haven't bought it in years, but when I did I believe I just
picked it up at a pharmacy. (It is often used as a local anaesthetic for
aching teeth).
I found that it worked well, but you have to leave a bit of time for them to
open up and have it take effect. It seemed to range from approximately 15
minutes to more than an hour, in my experience!) Once they don't react to
poking and disturbance (by squirting and contracting), you know the're
ready. At least then you can do your surgury without having them squirm
before your eyepieces (which I, personally, found quite distressing)!
Good luck! Is it Ciona that you will be working on? I've used clove oil to
anaesthetise Ascidia paratropa, Corella inflata, and several Molgulids, as
well as a variety of colonial ascidians, so I hope it works for you.
Hope this helps. Cathy (Pennachetti) Carolsfeld
----- Original Message -----
From: J.Barenbrock <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 4:29 AM
Subject: dissecting ascidians
> Dear all,
> on a cruise in May, I plan to collect solitary ascidians in the North
> Sea and want to separate the tunica and the body of the individuals. I
> found literature concerning this procedure, bit I did not get any clues
> as if to first kill the animals. I am not feeling good about dissecting
> them alive. Does anybody know about alternatives or handling procedure?
> Thanks for advise,
> Jana
>
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