Dye Staining of Neural End-Feet for Light Microscopy After Glutaraldehyde Fixation

Abstract

A method is described for the demonstration of neural end-feet in glutaraldehyde-fixed nervous tissue. Small blocks of tissue are mordanted in an alcoholic solution of phosphotungstic acid. After completion of dehydration, the tissue is embedded in paraffin, sections are cut and mounted, dewaxed, and oxidized in periodic acid. Following staining by Gomori's trichrome procedure, sections are rinsed in dilute acetic acid and mounted in resinous medium. End-feet are stained red against a pale green background. The method is rapid and gives reliable results.