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Microwave Tissue Procesing: History and SEM Techniques

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 July 2020

R. S. Demaree*
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Chico, CA95929
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Abstract

Microwave-assisted processing of biological samples began with Mayers. Subsequently, many investigators reported using microwave ovens for various aspects of biological sample processing for light microscopy (LM) and/or transmission electron microscopy (TEM.) The use of ice-encased fixation and water-immersion resin polymerization marked the beginning of rapid, reproducible microwave-assisted processing techniques.

Mcrowave protocols are now often used for LM and TEM processing. Examples include paraffin embedding for LM, in situ hybridization, decalcification, immunological staining plus clinical studies and research projects for TEM.

Recently my lab has begun to microwave process biological samples for scanning electron microscopy (SEM.). We fix, dehydrate and dry with hexamethyldisilazane in less than 1 ½ hours. The only part of the process not utilizing microwave assist is the final 15 minute drying step in a conventional oven.

Type
Recent Techniques for the Fixation and Staining of Biological Samples (Organized by M. Sanders and K. McDonald)
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2001

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References

References:

1.Mayers, C. P.. J. Clin. Pathol. 23(1970)273.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Giber son, R. T. and Demaree, R. S. Jr., Micros. Res. Tech. 32(1995)246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Demaree, R. S. Jr., Giber, R. T. son and Smith, R. L.. Scanning 17(1995)25.Google Scholar
4.Giber son, R. T. and Demaree, R. S. Jr., Microwave Techniques and Protocols, Totowa, NJ, Humana (IN PRESS)Google Scholar
5.Fox, N. E. and Demaree, R. S.. Micros. Res. Tech. 46(1999)338.3.0.CO;2-L>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Appreciation is expressed to Norm Fox, Dave Dorward and Julie Janes for use of micrographsGoogle Scholar