Major Improvement in Microscopic-Image Quality of Cryostat Sections: Combining Freezing and Microwave-Stimulated Fixation

Abstract

In this article the authors describe a procedure to obtain cryostat sections of superior quality using microwave stimulation of a fixation reagent with suitable microwavability properties. In fact, the light microscopic images are of a quality that is comparable to that of the best conventional paraffin technique. The new procedure requires less time than the existing cryostat technique. The only additional piece of equipment needed in this procedure is a relatively inexpensive commercially available microwave oven.