| Abstract: | A review of the various methods of staining and mounting radulae is given. Normally the radula should be extracted with 0.5 to 1% sodium hydroxide solution, and the associated tissues removed before staining. Two staining methods are recommended for facilitating the interpretation of radulae. Newly formed teeth and the bases of older ones are well stained by saturated aqueous chlorazol black E (up to 10 minutes). A more uniformly stained specimen) in which the cusps of all but the young teeth are alone stained, may be obtained by using the “oxidation-dahlia technic”. The radula is oxidized in N/10 potassium permanganate solution until black and subsequently decolorized in saturated aqueous oxalic acid. It is then stained in 0.1% aqueous dahlia (Hofmann's violet), the staining time varying from 10 to 30 minutes, according to the material. It is then dehydrated and passed through xylene and clove oil into Canada balsam. Other mountants may be employed but glycerin jelly is only recommended for the rapid examination of unstained radulae. Several other staining methods are mentioned, and general precautions to be observed while mounting are discussed. |
