Microwaves Applied to Silver Impregnations with Ammoniacal Silver Carbonate

Abstract

Techniques for impregnation with ammoniacal silver carbonate provide valuable information on all types of tissue; however, the time investment required to impregnate a few sections has limited their application. We have shortened the impregnation times by using microwaves in techniques for reticular fibers, astrocytes, nerve fibers and chromaffin cells. The results were satisfactory with markedly reduced impregnation time and elimination of nonspecific silver deposits.

Silver development in microscopy and bioanalysis: past and present

“…The silver diammine method remains popular and has been used recently for demonstrating neuronal bodies, 69,70 fungi, 71 and glomerular basement membrane. 72 It has also been used in combination with microwaves 72,73 and for visualizing proteins and other substances on gels [74][75][76][77][78] and diaminobenzidine (DAB) in immunocytochemistry. 79 An alternative, the 'protargol' or silver proteinate method, allegedly gives a cleaner background in tissue sections.…”