Decalcification by ascorbic acid for immuno- and affinohistochemical techniques on the inner ear

An ascorbic acid decalcifying solution was applied to immuno- and affinohistochemical studies on the inner ear. Rat inner ears fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS or in 2% acetic acid in ethanol solutions were adequately decalcified in an ascorbic acid solution, at a temperature of 4°C. The decalcifying solution was prepared with 1% ascorbic acid and 0.84% sodium chloride in distilled water (pH 2.5–2.6). The decalcification time was in a direct relationship to the specimen calcification. In this study, two neuroactive substances (γ-aminobutyric acid and calcitonin gene-related peptide), neurofilaments, and the galectine endogenous lectin were successfully detected immunohistochemically. Accepted: 20 May 1999