Xx. Bao et al., CP embedding agent and its application to the serial section of the body wall tissue of insects, CHIN SCI B, 44(11), 1999, pp. 1021-1024
The key of tissue section technique is the selection and application of the
embedding agent. Based on the specific characteristics of the tissue and o
uter skeleton of insects, a new kind of embedding agent, colophony and para
ffin (CP), was used without destroying the integrity of insect organs. The
tissue can be sliced continuously by the use of CP embedding technique. It
solves the 3 difficult problems in the serial section of the organ and tiss
ue of insect, namely stiff materials, thin section and continuity of sectio
ns. These difficult problems are not solved by any unitary tissue section t
echnique that is used now, including the paraffin section technique. By usi
ng the CP embedding technique, any parts or organs (like antenna, leg and w
ing) and even the whole body of insects (mini body) can be sliced up contin
uously. It will open up wide possibilities for the study of inner structure
, the interrelations among organs, the micro-characteristics and the physio
logical functions of insects systematically.