Summary
Various parts of the skeleton of normal and osteoporotic rats were compared with respect to their dry weight, ash weight, and calcium content when the bones were cleaned byDermestes maculatus beetles or manually. Both techniques gave similar results. This was also true when whole body calcium measured by neutron activation and total skeletal calcium from bones cleaned by the beetles were compared. Thus dermestid beetles are useful as a technique to clean bones, especially for the parts of the skeleton which are difficult to dissect by hand.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hall, E.R., Russell, W.C.: Dermestid beetles as an aid in cleaning bones, J. Mammal.14:58–59, 1933
Hooper, E.T.: Use of dermestid beetles instead of cooking pots, J. Mammal.31:100–102, 1950
Russell, W.C.: Biology of the dermestid beetle with references to skull cleaning, J. Mammal.28:284–287, 1947
de la Torre, L.: A method for cleaning skulls of specimens preserved in alcohol, J. Mammal.32:231–232, 1951
Rasmussen, P.: Calcium deficiency, pregnancy and lactation in rats. Some effects on blood chemistry and the skeleton, Calcif. Tissue Res.23:87–94, 1977
Rasmussen, P.: Calcium deficiency, pregnancy and lactation in rats. Microscopic and microradiographic observations on bones, Calcif. Tissue Res.23:95–102, 1977
Guinn, V.P., Hoste, J.: Elemental analysis of biological materials by neutron activation analysis (IAEA-SM-227/102). Proceedings of an International Symposium on Nuclear Activation Techniques in Life Sciences, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, 1978
Schubiger, P.A., Jakob, K., Ferreira-Marques, F.M., Hefti, E., Trechsel, U., Mühlbauer, R., Fleisch, H.: Determination of whole body calcium in vivo in rats by neutron activation analysis, Int. J. Nucl. Med. Biol. in press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hefti, E., Trechsel, U., Rüfenacht, H. et al. Use of dermestid beetles for cleaning bones. Calcif Tissue Int 31, 45–47 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02407166
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02407166