Rapid staining of ultrathin sections with the use of a microwave oven

The microwave oven has many potential applications, ranging from tissue fix ation to staining for light and electron microscopy. This study was planned to speed up the staining of ultrathin sections. The first set of grids was stained conventionally with uranyl acetate and Reynold's lead citrate solu tions. The other grids were stained with the same solutions by microwave ir radiation. The electron micrographs of grids stained using the microwave te chnique were as satisfactory as the grids stained conventionally Microwave- treated grids demonstrated more uniform staining and less precipitate. The use of a microwave oven shortened staining time by approximate to 38 min.