Microwave Fixation of Rat Hippocampal Slices

The authors’ research focuses on the structural basis of synaptic function. Knowing the dimensions and connectivity of presynaptic and postsynaptic elements is necessary for understanding the mechanisms of synaptic transmission in the central nervous system. To this end, electrophysiological (EP) methods are used in combination with confocal microscopy, serial electron microscopy (EM), three-dimensional reconstruction, and quantitative image analysis. Microwave (MW)-enhanced methods for preparing hippocampal (HC) slices are described in this chapter. These procedures have been adapted from (1989 ) and (1985 ).