Staining of Dead Neurons by the Golgi Method

What is it about?

In histological preparations and in tissue cultures, degenerated and dead neurons may be detected by application of various techniques based on the different staining properties of living and dead cells. Among them, silver impregnation technique may be characterized as instrumental for the precise visualization and estimation of the morphological alterations of neurons and neuronal circuits in various pathological conditions.

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Why is it important?

In the endeavor for a clear and accurate visualization of the sequential stages of the neuronal degeneration and death, silver impregnation techniques have played a prominent role for many years, enabling the study of degenerating axons, dendrites, spines, synaptic boutons and axonal terminals. Those techniques stain also the population of the reactive astrocytes, enabling the estimation of the neuronal, astrocytic ratio in degenerative conditions. In addition, silver techniques may also provide an insight in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders and clarify some of the mechanisms, which are involved in the remodeling of neuronal networks in the recovering brain, either on the basis of neuronal plasticity or under the possible therapeutic interventions. Thus, the modern versions of the techniques contribute substantially to the accumulation of valuable data, obtained from the detailed morphological analysis of the autopsy material in debilitating diseases, revealing ‘Dark’ neurons, dendritic alterations, neurofibrillary degeneration, neuritic plaques, microglial cell proliferation and alterations of the brain capillaries

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