Microwave oven retrieval

Shi SR, Key ME, Kalra KL. Antigen retrieval in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues an enhancement method for immunohistochemical staining based on microwave oven heating of tissue sections. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 1991 39 741-748. 

Before the beginning of the immunostaining protocol, slides should be put in a Coplin jar filled with an antigen retrieval solution of choice and heated in a commercial microwave oven operating at a frequency of 2.45 GHz and 600 W power setting. After two heating cycles of 5 min each, slides should be allowed to cool at room temperature and thoroughly washed in PBS. 

Tacha, D. E. and Chen, T. (1994) Modified antigen retrieval procedure calibration technique for microwave ovens. J. Histotechnol. 17, 365. 

Man, Y-g. and Tavassoli, F. A. (1996) A simple epitope retrieval method without the use of microwave oven or enzyme digestion. Appl. Immunohistochem. 4, 139-141. 

Type of microwave oven and heating parameters, other heating sources, or other epitope retrieval treatments such as enzyme digestion and ultrasound... 

The pressure cooker-microwave heating method is simpler than the autoclave procedure and more efficient than microwave heating alone. The pressure cooker does not require checking the level of the antigen retrieval solution during heating in the microwave oven, and a large number of slides can be loaded simultaneously. In addition, the pressure... 

The most commonly accepted point of view is that heat is responsible for unmasking the epitopes. In fact, Battifora (1996) has introduced the phrase heat-induced epitope retrieval (HIER). Heating at KXPC is a powerful treatment that can unmask hidden, buried, or crosslinked epitopes. Heat can be provided not only by a microwave oven, but also by an autoclave, a pressure cooker, steam, or a hot plate. A consensus on which method of heating is most effective in the retrieval of all types of epitopes is lacking. Therefore, some... 

Antigen Retrieval in a High-Pressure Microwave Oven... 

Overheating the microwave oven tends to result in boiling or excessively rapid evaporation of fluids such as ethanol used for dehydration, formaldehyde employed for fixation, and the antigen retrieval fluid. As a result, flammable and/or toxic materials are released in the microwave oven. Even without overheating, vapors are produced because containers are kept open in the oven to prevent pressurization. Transparent microwave containers should be used, fluid volumes should be -100ml. Microwave ovens with attached efficient extractor fans are commercially available, as are microwave ovens with temperature probes. To avoid possible exposure to toxic vapors, the face should be turned away when the oven door is opened (Horobin and Fleming, 1990). The oven door should not be opened or closed to turn the microwave power on and off. 

The following specific steps must be taken while using a microwave oven for antigen retrieval (Marani, 1998). 

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