Microwave Fixation System
• “Gold standard” for brain tissue fixation
• Installation and training included
• Brain tissue fixed in less than 2 seconds!
• Air-cooled system—no water needed
• All controls are done through the touch-screen panel display
• Improved safety design—less than 1mW/cm2
• CE marked and approved
• Eliminates the use of other fixation methods such as paraformaldehyde/formalin
50037 In Vivo Microwave Fixation System
The In Vivo Microwave Brain Fixation Systems have been used for more than 30 years to help uncover brain activity in rodents, not accessible using conventional methods of brain fixation, resulting in publications in Science, Nature, and many, many other well known journals.
The ultimate brain fixation method–focused microwave energy
 
The NEW method for reliable and rapid fixation of brain tissue
Better than Freezing
A common method is the cooling or freezing, by immersion, of a living animal’s head or brain
tissue in liquid nitrogen, or cooled freon in order to inactivate enzymes. Although, cooling is frequently used in many laboratories, it is not fully effective in preventing post-mortem changes. The time required to freeze deep structure of the brain may range from 10-90 seconds due to the poor thermal conductivity of tissues surrounding the brain. Post-mortem
changes will occur during this period.
An alternate method is microwave heating to inactivate enzymes.
If doing protein phosphorylation — no other method compares! Microwave fixation is the fastest and most effective known method of halting brain chemical activity. Several important brain chemicals, including acetylcholine, dopamine, DARRP, HVA, and c-AMP begin changing state rapidly at death.
The 10 to 90 seconds required for complete freezing following decapitation into liquid nitrogen is sufficient for significant degradation, phosphorylation, or other changes to occur.
Microwave fixation, however, yields chemical levels like those in the living brain. Levels of enzyme-regulated neurotransmitters, and metabolic substances in the brain, are stopped at the levels that existed in the living animal, while brain size and structure remain virtually unchanged.
Patented Microwave Focus Applicators
If microwave power of sufficient level is focused on the animal’s head, the enzymes in the whole brain can be completely inactivated in a very short time. Further, the brain can be dissected easily and slowly at room temperature.
Therefore, the microwave irradiation system is quite useful when measuring acetylcholine, choline, cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP, GABA, DOPA, 5-HTP, serotonin, endorphin, prostaglandin, catecholamines and their metabolites and phosphorylated proteins in the brain.
Microwave fixation is done by elevating the temperature of the brain up to 75-90°C as rapidly as possible.
Microwaves are channeled and focused by the wave guide which focuses the microwaves from above the head, rather than in front. The entire rat head is placed in a uniform microwave field. Movements of the head do not change the field strength or microwave distribution. Thus, uniform fixation of the whole brain is achieved, without “over cooking” and damage to the hypothalamus.
Muromachi’s unique applicators provide protection to the researcher and also compensate for individual differences between animals, giving more reproducible results.
Compact Mobile Cabinet
The Muromachi Microwave Fixation System is enclosed in one cabinet, mounted on 5″ casters, with a single convenient control panel. Holders are available for animals from 20 to 500 gms. Order appropriate applicators and holders for your application.
Eliminates the use of other fixation methods such as paraformaldehyde/formalin
Related Products
ITEM      DESCRIPTION
ITEM      DESCRIPTION      PRICE     QTY
50037   Microwave Fixation System, 5 kW             
50041   Applicator for 50051, 50052 & 50053, 5kW only   
50042   Applicator for 50055, 5kW only   
50043   Applicator for 50056 & 50057, 5kW only 
50051   Restrainer, Mouse (20-40g)           
50052   Restrainer, Mouse (15-20g)           
50055   Restrainer, Rat (150-250g)            
50056   Restrainer, Rat (250-400g)            
50057   Restrainer, Rat (400-500g)            
50058   Restrainer, Heart Fixation, Mouse