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Microwave Protocols for Plant and Animal Paraffin Microtechnique

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2018

Denise Schichnes*
Affiliation:
The University of California at Berkeley, CNR Biological Imaging Facility
Jeffrey A. Nemson
Affiliation:
The University of California at Berkeley, CNR Biological Imaging Facility
Steven E. Ruzin
Affiliation:
The University of California at Berkeley, CNR Biological Imaging Facility

Extract

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The microwave oven is a valuable tool for light and electron microscopy microtechnique labs. Tissue processing times, traditionally taking up to two weeks, have been reduced to a few hours as a result of the implementation of microwave technology (Kok et al., 1988, Gibberson and Demaree, 2001). In addition, the quality of the tissue preparations has improved dramatically. Microwave ovens have also evolved since their first use in the laboratory. Early experiments were conducted using relatively crude commercial microwave ovens. Now, labs use microwave ovens with temperature probes, strict control over the magnetron (which generates the microwaves), variable power supplies, chamber cooling, and high microwave field uniformity.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2005

References

Giberson, R.T., Demaree, R.S. Jr. eds, Microwave Techniques and Protocols. Humana Press Inc, Totowa, New Jersey.Google Scholar
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Schichnes, D., Nemson, J.A., Ruzin, S.E. (2001) Microwave Paraffin Techniques for Botanical Tissues. In Giberson, R.T., Demaree, R.S. eds, Microwave Techniques and Protocols. Humana Press Inc, Totowa, New Jersey, pp 181189.Google Scholar