title: Microwave applications in classical staining methods in formalin-fixed human brain tissue: a comparison between heating with microwave and conventional ovens.
abstract: The quality of microwave adaptations of three classical neuroanatomical staining methods (the Nissl, Klüver-Barrera and Häggqvist stains) was tested on frozen serial sections from human brain specimens which has been stored for up to 10 years in 10% formalin. The conclusion was that the use of microwave irradiation reduces processing time and/or concentrations of the chemicals used, whereas the light microscopical quality of the stains considered is equal or improved as compared to their original counterparts. Next, a comparison was made between microwave adapted stains and classical procedures, which, except for the use of a conventional oven as heat source together with pre-heated solutions, were entirely identical. It appeared, that at light microscopical level no difference can be appreciated between the effect of internally (using microwave irradiation) and externally (using a conventional oven) supplied heat on the staining result.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Physiology, University of Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Feirabend
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ploeger
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008872:Microwaves; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005557:Formaldehyde