Mounting Media

Kaiser’s Glycerin Jelly

 

Ingredients
distilled water
52 ml
 
gelatin
8 gm
 
glycerin
50 ml
 
thymol (to prevent mold)
a crystal
 

 

Directions

Heat to 75°C and stir until dissolved. Do not heat above this temperature.

Excellent mounting medium for wholemounts.

Specimen is taken from 70% ETOH or water, and put through a graded series of glycerin solutions (20% glycerin, 50% glycerin, 100% glycerin; series can be of glycerin mixed with 70% ETOH or water). When the specimen is translucent (cleared) from having been in 100% glycerin for a sufficient amount of time, it is mounted on a slide using glycerin jelly that has been warmed until it is liquid. A coverslip is placed on top of the warmed glycerin jelly.

To warm the glycerin jelly, use a water-bath, or place the container in a beaker of water on a warming plate set on low heat. Do not overheat.

Once the glycerin jelly on the slide has become firm, the coverslip is ringed with a sealing agent such as finger-nail polish.