Kenechukwu Tobechukwu Onwuama; Sulaiman Olawoye Salami; Magdaline Ali & James Oliver Nzalak

Summary

This study was conducted using 12 Adult African Giant Pouched rats of both sexes to compare and to see the effect of three different methods of bone preparation on the bones of the African Giant Rat (Cricetomys gambianus). Five rats were used for maceration method, three for burial method and four rats for chemical method (involving two rats each for 3% and 5% solution of Sodium Hydroxide). Chemical preparation with Sodium Hydroxide was found to be the best method in terms of time required to complete the procedure, number of bones recovered, colour of the bones and odour of the preparation. However, the chemical method has the disadvantage of dissolving and cracking the bones if the concentration used is high and prompt attention is not given to the preparation.

KEY WORDS: Bone preparation; African Giant Pouched Rat; Chemical preparation; Maceration.

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