POLAR RESIN EMBEDDING FOR MACROTRACHELA-QUADRICORNIFERA

A new glycol methacrylate (GMA) polar resin technique was used for lig ht microscopy and histochemistry of Macrotrachela quadricornifera. Ani mals were treated with cold aqueous solution of ethylene glycol (EG), then embedded in the cold. Animals required no conventional chemical f ixation as EG stabilizes, dehydrates and cryopreserves their structure . In this way several enzymatic activities are preserved, along with m orphology. Moreover, resin reticulate protects tissues against agressi ve reagents. As a consequence, it is possible to perform different sta ining procedures, in sequence, on the same section.