A SILVER CARBONATE METHOD FOR CELL COUNTS OF NEURONS AND GLIAL ELEMENTS ON PARAFFIN EMBEDDED BRAIN-TISSUE

A modification of the Del Rio-Hortega method for the demonstration of central nervous system elements is presented. This silver impregnation technique is particularly useful for the classification of cell types for quantitative differential cell counts. Formalin fixed paraffin sections arc immersed in formol-ammonium bromide far 1 1/2 hours; this solution is an excellent mordant for various silver nitrate stains. The samples are stained for 20 to 60 minutes in a silver carbonate solution (25 ml of 25% silver nitrate combined with 200 ml of 5% sodium carbonate) and then reduced in a 1% formaldehyde solution to which 20 drops of acetic acid have been added. Finally, the slides are fixed in sodium thiosulfate, rinsed in tap water, dehydrated, cleared, and mounted. The procedure will enable the investigator to identify neurons, oligodendroglia, and astrocytes on the basis of their nuclear staining as well as to demonstrate the laminae of brain tissue sine the method allows differentiation of cell layers and fiber tracts. © 1979 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.