In article <jkiernan.105.2F3A2CB3 at julian.uwo.ca>, jkiernan at julian.uwo.ca
(J. A. Kiernan) wrote:
> The original formalin-thionin method was that of M.C. Chang
> (1936) Anat. Rec. 65: 437-442. The reagent is used as a
> combined fixative & stain, and the block is then embedded in
> paraffin and sectioned. I tried it a long time ago, and it
> worked first time, but it's not for anyone who's in a hurry
> for the results!
>
There is a much more recent thionin-based technique for differential
staining of nerve cells and fibres. The protocol developed by Tolvia,
Navarro, and Tovia (1994) in Histochemistry, 102, 101-104 is described for
paraffin-embedded CNS tissue, but I have found it works equally well for
cryostat sections. It is fast, easy, and produces beautiful looking
sections.
chris
