Rapid immunoperoxidase staining of axons for frozen section diagnosis of nerve biopsy specimens.

A new method of freezing and embedding a nerve biopsy specimen and staining it with the immunoperoxidase technique for neurofilaments was developed to overcome the difficulties normally encountered in the assessment of tiny portions of nerve. The method clearly shows the architecture of the nerve, the exact number and size of all axons present, and the degree of fibrosis present. The entire procedure may be accomplished in 20 minutes.