Protargol impregnation of plastic-embedded semi-thin sections: a simple method to select degenerative areas for electron microscopy.
0.5 mu plastic-embedded sections, obtained from aldehyde-osmium fixed rat and cat spinal cord, were impregnated in a 0.5% Protargol solution for 24 hours at 56 degrees C. Reduction was performed in a sodium sulphite- (5%) hydroquinone (1%) developer. Terminals undergoing Wallerian degeneration stand out as easily discernible black dots; corresponding osmiophilic degenerative patterns are demonstrated in consecutive thin electron microscopic sections. This simple technique enables successful trimming of blocks to obtain areas with the highest frequency of terminal degeneration.
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D010969:Plastics; D051381:Rats; D012836:Silver Proteins; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014855:Wallerian Degeneration
D010969:Plastics; D012836:Silver Proteins; C003232:strong silver protein