title: Microwave applications on small insect brain tissue irradiated in a water-perfused cooling-jacket for temperature control.
abstract: This paper describes a technique for microwave-accelerated fixation, washing and pre-embedding immunohistochemistry of insect brains. The temperature of the specimens is controlled with a water-cooling device. This device also serves as a permanent water load for microwave energy absorption and as a stirrer to avoid uneven energy distribution. The set-up described here allows continuous irradiation of specimens at full power, for unlimited time, without overheating. A considerable reduction in processing time could thus be achieved, along with improved immunolabelling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Smid
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008872:Microwaves; D010477:Perfusion; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D016707:Tissue Fixation
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin