MICROWAVE APPLICATIONS IN CLASSICAL STAINING METHODS IN FORMALIN-FIXED HUMAN BRAIN-TISSUE - A COMPARISON BETWEEN HEATING WITH MICROWAVE ANDCONVENTIONAL OVENS
Hkp. Feirabend et S. Ploeger, MICROWAVE APPLICATIONS IN CLASSICAL STAINING METHODS IN FORMALIN-FIXED HUMAN BRAIN-TISSUE - A COMPARISON BETWEEN HEATING WITH MICROWAVE ANDCONVENTIONAL OVENS, European journal of morphology, 29(3), 1991, pp. 185-197
The quality of microwave adaptations of three classical neuroanatomica
l staining methods (the Nissl, Kluver-Barrera and Haggqvist stains) wa
s tested on frozen serial sections from human brain specimens which ha
d been stored for up to 10 years in 10% formalin. The conclusion was t
hat the use of microwave irradiation reduces processing time and/or co
ncentrations of the chemicals used, whereas the light microscopical qu
ality of the stains considered is equal or improved as compared to the
ir original counterparts. Next, a comparison was made between microwav
e adapted stains and classical procedures, which, except for the use o
f a conventional oven as heat source together with pre-heated solution
s, were entirely identical. It appeared, that at light microscopical l
evel no difference can be appreciated between the effect of internally
(using microwave irradiation) and externally (using a conventional ov
en) supplied heat on the staining result.