Narcotizing, Slowing Down, and Preserving Microscopic and other Aquatic Animals

[billbillt]

Here is a link to a seemingly complete explanation of this subject..

https://www.mccrone.com/mm/narcotizing- ... c-animals/

BillT

[75RR]

Thanks. Useful info.

[zzffnn]

Wow! Very comprehensive!
Lidocaine was not mentioned though, surprisingly.

[billbillt]

I thought everyone would find this paper useful....
BillT

[apochronaut]

Very interesting and useful. One of the things that has bothered me for about 3 decades is the effect , the increased heat, light and change in dissolved gases have on protist behaviour. I'm not sure what a frantic amoeba looks like but I think I have seen them streaking for cover, if that is what it is called.

Of late , I have been using very low light, and also rely on a remote illuminator in order to lower the heat, sometimes. This is one of the benefits of the remote illuminator/mirror combination used almost exclusively in the past. I'm not a fan of microscopes with the entire illumination system , right under the stage.

If the term can be used, I am seeing a more relaxed behaviour under the more natural conditions. I am just waiting now, for a relaxed nematode to make it's entrance.

[75RR]

I am just waiting now, for a relaxed nematode to make it's entrance.

That would be a first :)

[Rodney]

I agree lots of good alternatives, ethyl alcohol is my favorite, being drunk enough most slow down and may dance a little. A good clean formula.
I have killed many insects for viewing with alcohol if any is left.

Rodney

[einman]

Very interesting and useful. One of the things that has bothered me for about 3 decades is the effect , the increased heat, light and change in dissolved gases have on protist behaviour. I'm not sure what a frantic amoeba looks like but I think I have seen them streaking for cover, if that is what it is called.

Of late , I have been using very low light, and also rely on a remote illuminator in order to lower the heat, sometimes. This is one of the benefits of the remote illuminator/mirror combination used almost exclusively in the past. I'm not a fan of microscopes with the entire illumination system , right under the stage.

If the term can be used, I am seeing a more relaxed behaviour under the more natural conditions. I am just waiting now, for a relaxed nematode to make it's entrance.

There is extensive discussion regarding behavior of protists under the varying conditions you mentioned in the book General Protozoology by Dogiel. Quite fascinating.

[einman]

I was thinking of doing an experiment where you would introduce a very low concentration of an antiseptic like Listerine etc. Chloroseptic is another one as it has benzocaine. Though Benzocaine is somewhat less water soluble compared to lidocaine and under certain circumstances is considered to have less of an anesthetizing effect. The effects of Benzocaine tend to fade faster as well.

Given the chemistry Lidocaine is probably superior for immobilizing protists.

[gekko]

Another paper (PDF) on the subject that I came across:
http://www.formatex.info/microscopy5/book/833-837.pdf

[75RR]

I also came across that article looking for the famous disappearing Taylor Microcompressor, Mark II.
One would think there would be a trace of it somewhere!

[gekko]

I also came across that article looking for the famous disappearing Taylor Microcompressor, Mark II.
One would think there would be a trace of it somewhere!

I think the problem is that they would probably not make enough money on it to justify manufacturing it for sale.