Notes on Technic

Abstract

This report details a whole mount technique which allows rapid assessment of meiotic stages in large numbers of mammalian oocytes using an aceto-orcein stain.

Previous studies of mammalian oocyte meiosis have been hampered by the use of time-consuming staining techniques. Temporary preparations have been produced using squashes of oocytes with fixative and stain drawn under the coverslip by diffusion (Austin 1961). An air-drying technique requires less attention by the technician and allows permanent preparations to be made (Tarkowski 1966). However, these methods require that each slide be treated individually. The improvements outlined below permit many slides to be processed together, allowing surveys of larger numbers of oocytes than before.