A silver and gold technique for axons and axon-bundles in formalin-fixed central and peripheral nervous tissue

Abstract

We have modified the reduced silver procedure of Liesegang and added a gold treatment. The technique has been successfully and routinely used to impregnate both peripheral and central nervous tissues of mice of different ages, and central nervous tissue of man. It was applied on conventionally (formalin) fixed and cryostat-cut material. In the periphery, nerves, individual axons, and sensory and motor endings stained a dark purple. In the brain, both bundles of axons and individual fine axonal branches were stained. When counterstained by a Nissl method, an excellent overall image of CNS structure is obtained.