Unraveling the Silver Stain Maze

Abstract

Silver nitrate has wide applications in the field of histotechnology as the multitude of published papers will attest. Studying the subject will reveal there are no modern texts giving an overview of the uses of silver nitrate in histopathology. In this paper, an effort has been made to categorize the various methods according to their mode of action. These methods include the uses of silver nitrate in techniques such as fixation, bulk staining, metal precipitation and metal substitution. Staining methods include argentaffin and argyrophil reactions (including those for reticulum, fungi, basement membranes, carcinoid tumors, spirochetes, Pneumocystis carinii, and Legionella pneumophilia).

Nervous system methods include Golgi methods, Bielschowsky, “postdevelopment” and direct silver methods, and glial cell methods.

A description and, where possible, theoretical principle involved has been given for each type of method. English language references are supplied for each method.