User:Nyanez3/Nerve Staining

Nerve staining is the process of which a nerve, or a set of nerves, is darkened or highlighted compared to surrounding areas in order to show differences or a certain process going on in the nerve. There are several types of nerve staining, some used more than the others with different levels of success and difficulty. Each type of staining process has advantages and disadvantages for these reasons, being used for different types of research as well as to study different parts of a neuron, a nerve, or a set of nerves at the same time.

=History=

=Types of Procedures=

Depending on the research wanted and the extent of information wanted to gather, these following methods are the best known and most used for nerve research.

Sihler's Method
Charles Sihler first introduced this method to brighten up nerve endings in snakes and frogs. However, forgotten by many years, this method was used and modified by several doctors, finally to be used in current methods of nerve research with the implementations given by Liem and Douwe van Willigen on the last half of the 20th century. Sihler's method consists of several parts which must be done within a period of 3-4 months :
 * Fixation: This part is done in order to make sure that the cells are prepared for proper staining. This is usually done with an amount of formalin solution(in most cases, it's a 10% unneutralized formalin solution.
 * Cell Maceration and Depigmentation: The cells must go through a solution in order to lose its steady, solid state and "soften" up so the stain can come in. Adding to this, the cells must also be depigmented in order for the stain to be visible. This process takes about a month in processing, and the solution must be changed daily or every other day. The solution used could be a solution containing potassium hydroxide solution with hydrogen peroxide.
 * Decalcification: This part of the process makes the cells even more flexible, taking away the last chemicals that would make the cell rigid. This would be done with Sihler's solution I (1:1:6=glacial acetic acid:glycerin:1% aqueous chloral hydrate solution). The samples would have to be soaked in this solution for 4 weeks and refreshed every week.
 * Staining
 * Destaining
 * Neutralization
 * Clearing

Nissl Method

 * (Explanation of Nissl Method, the two types, based on the pH of the cresyl echt violet stain used)

Bodian Method

 * (Explanation on how method involves Protargol (of which must include the trademark thing) and how it helps on the staining of nerve fibers in tissue)

Holmes Silver Nitrate Method

 * (nerve fibers, neurofibrils in tissue section)

Bielschowsky Method

 * (Explain: demonstration of nerve fibers, neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease)
 * (Add usage second procedure similar to this, PAS)

Sevier-Munger Method

 * (similar to Bielschowsky, must state and find article on why it's different exactly)

Mallory PTAH Method

 * glial fibers

Holzer Method

 * glial fibers

Cajal (gold sublimate) Method

 * glial fibers

Weil Method

 * myelin

Luxol Fast Blue (stain) Method

 * myelin

Weaknesses
=Combinations of Staining Methods=

Possible future uses of methods
=References=