[_Stefan_ (OP)]

We're dissecting rats at school next week. I'm taking my camera. I'm thinking of also looking at the various tissues under the microscope. I'd particularly like to see brain cells (neurons) under the microscope. Is it difficult to get a rat's skull open enough to extract some brain tissue?

Any one have suggestions for how to make the most out of this dissection?

One of the rats is (was? - they're frozen now) pregnant, by the way.

Kindest regards,

Stefan.

[paul.fr]

Stefan, i never realised you were a teenager!

have fun in your lesson, the only things we got to disect at school were, frogs, sheeps eyes and human lungs.

[_Stefan_ (OP)]

Lol Thanks Paul. Yes, I'm 16 :p

Yikes... human lungs? That would be really interesting actually.
I'd like to dissect an eye, and look at the cones and rods under a microscope too. That'd be great!

Cool sites I just found.  http://www.gisbornesc.vic.edu.au/home/jans/home/rat.htm
http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/cow_eye/step01.html
http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bsci111b/eye/cow-eye/cow-eye-dissection.htm

[that mad man]

I cant suggest much but being a morbid kind of guy I used to love dissecting.

I hope you enjoy it and please post some of your photos, your others were very good.

Bee

[_Stefan_ (OP)]

Thanks Bee
I sure will post the photos.
I'm mentally preparing myself for the disgust I might experience on the day. Gah...

[_Stefan_ (OP)]

Hi All!

Well, the dissection was interesting . It wasn't quite as disgusting as I had anticipated, if at all. The rats were still cold from being frozen, so they didn't smell much. It was interesting to see how the skin came away from the muscle and to generally observe the positions, locations, shapes and sizes of the various organs.
I dissected a pregnant female rat. She was carrying 16 fetuses.

Anyway, here are the photos. Warning: Images may disturb some people.

Pregnant Rat Dissection

Cheers.