An Ultrastructural Study of Mouse Brain Following Rapid Fixation by Microwave Irradiation

Abstract

The accurate analyses of many labile neurochemicals is depended on the rapid inactivation of the synthetic and degradative enzymes. To achieve rapid in-activation, recently, a 2450 MHz microwave instrument with a power deposition of 7 kW has been designed and built in our laboratory. This device has been utilized to preserve the short lived neurochemicals, such as acetylcholine, choline, γ aminobutyric acid, dopamine and cyclic adenosin monophosphate. This method has several advantages and is superior to freezing technique. little is known about the effects of heating by microwave on the cellular and subcellular structure of the brain. In the present studies the effect of heating with 2450 MHz microwave radiation for 100 milliseconds (temp. 60°C)1 on the ultrastructure of different regions of mice brain has been examined. The ultrastructural changes in the anterior portion of the brain are described.