Re: antigen retrieval

From:Mikael Niku

Dear Véronique (and others!),

I'm working in a small research lab doing lots of immunostaining
and in situ hybridization.

We have found microwave protocols to be quite essential
for our work. Indeed, it has made possible several stainings
that were previously practically impossible.

We are using an ordinary kitchen microwave oven, and
have so far been satisfied enough not to buy a real
laboratory oven. You just need to spend some time experimenting
and finding the best treatments - but that's probably
the case with any oven, even with temperature controls and
stuff. The only serious drawback I've came across so far
is that when one needs very delicate treatment, it is
necessary to be really able to control the power setting,
which is impossible with kitchen microwave ovens.

In fact, I would like to ask people using the fancy
laboratory microwave ovens, what are the greatest advantages
they offer as compared to kitchen models?


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   Mikael Niku             URL: www.helsinki.fi/~mniku/
   University of Helsinki  Dept. Basic Veterinary Sciences
       - Mitäkö mieltä olen länsimaisesta sivistyksestä?
         Minusta se olisi erinomainen ajatus!
                                              - Gandhi
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Véronique Wunderle" 
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 10:37 AM
Subject: antigen retrieval


> hi everybody !
> Being pretty new in the big world of
> immunohistochemistry I am asking myself lots of
> questions (some people tells me it's a good thing..).
> I know that I should get a good book on the subject
> (any advice ?) but I find that "real-life" experience
> is often much more informative.
> So the question of the day is about antigen retrieval.
> I have been looking around for different protocols and
> most of them use a microwave oven. I can't buy right
> now a microwave especially for IHC and I am a bit
> concerned about setting up parameters on an oven used
> extensively for other purposes. I am a bit anxious
> that the life span of this oven is going to be pretty
> short...
> So, I tried the heating plate protocol (10mn in
> boiling citrate buffer) on brain sections. So far, it
> seems to be working pretty well. But I may be lucky.
> I am therefore wondering if people out there tried
> this and what you think about it. What make you prefer
> the microwave method and here is the ultimate question
> : is a microwave oven a "must have" for doing
> incredible IHC ?
> all your advices are welcome...
> veronique.
>
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