Preparation of honey bee specimens for histopathological studies, including a technique for the preparation of whole sections

摘要

The typical techniques used to create pathological specimens of honey bee (Apis mellifera) in order to observe targeted organs are fixation, sectioning, and staining. However, these processes require a stereo microscope, cuticle scissors, scalpel and watchmaker's forceps, as well as advanced skills for extracting the desired organ. In this study, an embedding technique used to prepare specimens of sand fly (Phlebotominae) for histological studies is used instead of the conventional method. Placing the entire honey bee into Bouin's fixative with vacuum infiltration and butanol clearing was shown to create highly satisfactory specimens. Without the use of special reagents and equipment, the entire body is preserved in perfect condition, allowing easier identification of the internal organs.