Home / general Preserving the viscous coral surface mucus layer using low-acid glycol methacrylate (GMA) resin - ePrints Liam Parker Updated on April 05, 2026 Preserving the viscous coral surface mucus layer using low-acid glycol methacrylate (GMA) resinLookup NU author(s): Dr Reia Guppy,Barbara Brown,Professor John BythellORCiDDownloadsLicenceThis is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Springer Verlag, 2019.For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.Abstract© 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. The surface mucus layer (SML) is of critical importance in health, disease, and stress responses of corals; however, visualising the intact SML is challenging. Dehydration during histological preparation causes shrinkage and deformation of the mucus gel layer, while fragile, unattached mucus exudates are typically lost altogether. Here, we describe a novel technique using water-soluble glycol methacrylate resin embedding that more accurately preserves the in situ SML. Thickness of the preserved SML is similar to that previously measured on live corals using a glass microprobe. The technique allows microscopic visualisation of the SML structure, as well as thickness and continuity measurements, which are important indicators of SML function in health and disease.Publication metadataAuthor(s): Guppy R, Brown B, Bythell JCPublication type: ArticlePublication status: PublishedJournal: Coral ReefsYear: 2019Volume: 38Issue: 3Pages: 521-526Print publication date: 01/06/2019Online publication date: 23/03/2019Acceptance date: 18/03/2019Date deposited: 04/06/2019ISSN (print): 0722-4028ISSN (electronic): 1432-0975Publisher: Springer VerlagURL: DOI: 10.1007/s00338-019-01791-yAltmetricsFundingFunder referenceFunder nameF/00 125/SNE/E006949Share
