Gek. Novotny et I. Mertens, A SILVER IMPREGNATION UTILIZING ONLY REAGENT-GRADE CHEMICALS FOR VISUALIZATION OF PERIPHERAL AXONS AND FIBROBLASTS, Journal of Microscopy, 189, 1998, pp. 154-162
A silver impregnation procedure is described that enables the represen
tation of numerous tissue components. It especially visualizes nerves
and fibroblasts, which may be clearly distinguished from other tissue
elements. Since it can be performed on thick sections, three-dimension
al analysis of nerve terminations and fibroblasts in the tissues can b
e performed, The results are illustrated with the innervation of the r
at snout and human labial sweat glands for nerves, and with bovine and
pathological human material for fibroblasts. Axons are visualized as
thin, sinuous black structures, sometimes, as in the case of autonomic
efferents, with varicosities. Fibroblasts are revealed in their total
extent by the darker staining of their nuclei and cytoplasm compared
with that of the surrounding collagen. Cell processes can thus be foll
owed for long distances, and may be seen to approach other cells, Prev
iously published methods for the visualization of nerves and fibroblas
ts depended upon the use of commercial formalin, which is subject to t
he manufacturers' modifications. The method presented here uses exclus
ively analytical-grade reagents and distilled water. It is also less d
ependent than other methods on the fixation protocol.