Microwave-accelerated processing of coral tissue histology

Background: Microwave technology has revolutionized histological processing by reducing processing time and improving tissue integrity. We describe the first microwave-accelerated tissue processing procedure for healthy and diseased tissue fragments of two species of corals: the gorgonian Gorgonia ventalina and the scleractinian Acropora cervicornis. Methods: Fourteen tissue samples from sea fans (eleven healthy and three diseased), and one tissue sample from a healthy A. cervicornis, were decalcified and processed using microwaves. Histological slices were stained using hematoxylin and eosin and immunostained using an antibody against Aspergillus. Results: By using microwave technology, the decalcification time, as well as the steps and time for tissue processing were significantly reduced while maintaining the integrity of the tissue. Conclusions: This technique accelerates the chemical processing of coral tissue, while providing high quality and optimal resolution of histological sections.