Van Deuren B, Van Reempts J, Borgers M
Department of Morphology, Janssen Research Foundation, Beerse, Belgium.
Acta Neuropathol. 1992;84(2):198-201. doi: 10.1007/BF00311395.
A simple and rapid method for light and electron microscopic visualization of degenerating neuronal processes and axon terminals is described. Hundred-micrometer vibratome sections of perfusion-fixed rat brain were incubated briefly in a 5% silver nitrate solution in a conventional microwave oven. After a rinse in 1% acetic acid, the sections were silver enhanced. Differentiation and counterstaining was done respectively in ethanol 100% and cresyl violet. In the light microscope, degenerating neuronal processes appeared as black dots against a clear background. Areas of calcification were also positively stained. The presence of silver deposits in degenerating presynaptic terminals and dendrites was confirmed ultrastructurally.
