Rapid and economical silver impregnation technique to demonstrate nerve fibers, axons, neurons, and senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease

A revised silver impregnation method has been developed to show nerve fiber s, axons, neurons, and pathological changes such as neurofibrillary tangles and plaques of Alzheimer's disease. This method used a sensitization step in 0.1% silver nitrate with a small quantity of citric acid included. This step was performed in a 65 degrees C waterbath to enhance the demonstration of the above entities. This was followed by a physical developer consistin g of hydroquinone, gum mastic and silver nitrate. The entire procedure take s under 30 min to perform and gives similar results to the Bielschowsky met hod for less than one-hundredth of the cost.