From owner-drosophila@net.bio.net Wed May 10 23:00:00 1995
Path: biosci!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!gatech!swrinde!emory!cssun.mathcs.emory.edu!hobbes.cc.uga.edu!news
From: bernhardt@bscr.uga.edu
Newsgroups: bionet.drosophila
Subject: Re: CO2 Anesthetization
Date: 11 May 1995 12:45:53 GMT
Organization: University of Georgia, Athens, Ga
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Distribution: world
Message-ID: <3ot0u1$s5i@hobbes.cc.uga.edu>
References: <9505102022.AA19965@newpisgah.keene.edu>
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In article <9505102022.AA19965@newpisgah.keene.edu>, kbergman@keene.edu (Kenneth D. Bergman) writes:
>I don't have immediate access to Drosophila methods books or handbooks and
>need to gather information rather quickly, in order to facilitate
>discussions on lab space-use with an architect.  Hence, I'd appreciate any
>advice from those of you who have experience in the use of CO2 in
>educational (versus research) settings.
>I used CO2 in grad school for anesthesia during insect surgery, but I
>haven't had much experience applying it to Drosophila.
>
>My questions:
>1 What are the most convenient forms of delivery of CO2?  Via hoses from
>gas cannisters?  Dry ice?    What are the advantages and disadvantages of
>each?
	Our lab uses CO2 delivered from canisters.  I don't know about dry
ice, but I suspect it would be more awkward to use.

>2 What are the risks of CO2 use in terms of fly mortality?  Sterility?  
	I don't have any hard numbers or anything, but from my experience,
short term exposure (a few to several minutes) doesn't have any obvious
ill effects.

>3.Do the flies remain immobile only while immersed in gaseous CO2, or does
>the exposure induce longer-lasting anesthesia?  (And if so, how
>long-lasting is the effect?)
	You do have to keep the flies immersed in CO2 to keep them knocked
out.  CO2 works by depriving the flies of oxygen.  When an oxygen atmosphere
is restored, they start to revive pretty quickly. 

>4. If it is necessary to keep the flies under CO2 while sorting on a
>microscope stage, how does one manage this?  What kind of arrangements are
>necessary?
	We have special porous rectangular boxes through which we can deliver
CO2.

>I'd appreciate any advice, preferably fairly explicit and detailed.
	I hope this helps.  If you need more information I could put you in
touch with our lab technician.
--
Matt Bernhardt
University of Georgia                Fools multiply folly.
bernhardt@bscr.uga.edu 

.