Microwave fixation of whole fetal specimens.

This study compares microwave fixation of whole fetal specimens with conventional techniques performed at room temperature. All fetuses were obtained from the same pregnant rat; half of them were placed in neutral formalin for 15 min at room temperature, then irradiated for 2.5 min in a domestic microwave oven. The remaining fetuses were placed in neutral formalin at room temperature for 48 hr as a control. Both experimental and control groups were exposed to routine tissue processing for light microscopy and embedded in paraffin wax. Sections 5 microns thick were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Our results showed that the microwave technique reduced the fixation time while providing thin sections that were equal to or better in quality than those in the control group.