NEURONS – 5
The images on the previous pages show nervous tissue stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). A different view of nerve cells can be obtained by using metal impregnation techniques.
In these techniques, tissue sections are not stained with conventional dyes. Instead, they are treated with solutions containing metal salts, such as those of silver, gold, or zinc. Metal ions are deposited or precipitated on specific components of the nervous tissue, making the cells and, particularly, their processes visible. However, these techniques do not reveal the internal components of the cytoplasm or the nuclei.
The image shows a section of the cerebellum. The cell bodies of large neurons called Purkinje cells are indicated by arrows. Notice their long, highly branched dendrites, which extend from the cell bodies.
Cerebellum. Metallic Impregnation.Small magnification,