In the present study, we evaluated the advantages of microwave-irradiated fixation for postmortem autolysis of the kidney. Mouse kidneys, sampled at 0, 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 hr after death, were fixed with 10% neutral formalin by microwave irradiation (MWI; 20 sec/500 W) and by conventional immersion. They were then examined with light and electron microscopy, morphometrics and immunohistochemicals. Light microscopic and morphometric observations showed that structural preservation effect

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... f MWI was limited to the proximal convoluted tubules at 25 hr. Contrary, mild ultrastructural damage by MWI was found in the glomeruli at 0 and 15 hr. Immunohistochemistry for renin and α-smooth muscle actin showed no apparent differences between MWI and the immersion. KEY WORDS: microwave irradiation, mouse kidney, postmortem change.