I was wondering if someone can help me with this issue. I was told that chemical product called Cellosolve was a good way to clear insect pieces such as mouthparts, legs and abdominal tergites, and as such a good substitute to KOH. Some of my colleagues in US and South Africa use it and are quite satisfied. I thus bought this product under the name 2-methoxyethanol (C3H8O2), which has the same chemical formula. But my product does not work and no clearing is visible. Can someone help me? What is wrong? Many thanks in advance!
Michel,
Cellosolve is a trademark of Dow chemical. CELLOSOLVE™ Solvents are solvents with high boiling, slow evaporating properties that are miscible with alcohols and ketones, and exhibit good compatibility with various coatings resins
2-methoxyethanol is commonly known as methylcellosolve, Ethylcellosolve (2-ethoxyethanol), propylcellosolve (2-propoxyehanol) and butylcellosolve (2butoxyethanol) are other cellosolves.
Many thanks John for this information. I was wondering why "Cellosolve" C3H8O2 used by my colleagues works and clears tissues whereas my 2-methoxyethanol does not work! Any idea? I am not a chemist so maybe the same chemical formula may have different structures? Thanks anyway. Michel
Michel,
I am not certain that I understand what 'clearing tissue' means. Can you explain?
Chemically you have the same product as your colleagues are using. It should work.
John,
In order to make slide preparation with mayfly nymphs, some colleagues transfer the nymph from ethanol to Cellosolve for a few minutes in order to clear the muscles so each mounted part is well visible. It is supposed to be similar to a bath of KOH but much faster and less destructive... I can leave it for hours in my 2-methoxyethanol and nothing happens! Michel
Hi Michel,
I can not help you about your problem with cellosolve/2-methoxyethanol as clearing method, but I can you suggest another chemical reagent that we are using for clearing insect tissues as an alternative to KOH bath. It is the methyl salicylate (wintergreen oil) and the results in larvae of Diptera are very satisfactory to observe the internal cephalopharyngeal skeleton. The technique is published in: Niederegger et al. (2011: Forensic Science International, 206: e96-e98). Unfortunately, I have not yet applied in mayfly nymphs, but I hope to do soon. I will comment on something.
Hi Nico!
Good to have news from you. This seems interesting, indeed! Once you tried with some mayfly nymphs, please give me your opinion. I will look at the paper anyway.
Best cheers,
Michel
This product is a substitute for the permanent Xylene preparations, without the need to successive baths of absolute alcohol before going to euparal (artificial ointment). Not suitable for whitening, but for dissections and rapid preparation of small morphological parts (eg insect gills)
Dear Helena,
Many thanks for your input. I am anyway not sure to understand to which product do you refer... cellosolve or methyl salicylate?
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