Microwave irradiation: a new rapid technique for separating epidermal tissue from mouse skin preserving RNA, DNA, protein and phorbol ester-induced ornithine decarboxylase levels.

Exposure of mouse skin to microwave radiation for 10 sec allows the epidermis to be separated from the dermis by gentle scraping of the skin with a scapel. At the end of the irrradiation period the subcutaneous temperature was 55 degrees C. Histologically, the microwave irradiated skin resembled skin exposed to an established heat separation procedure (i.e., immersion in 55 degrees C water followed by immersion in 0-4 degrees C water). The recoveries of DNA, RNA, and protein on a per area basis were the same for the microwave and conventional heat separation procedures, and the TPA-induced ornithine decarboxylase levels were comparable.