A modification of the rapid Golgi method.
An extremely rapid Golgi procedure for immersion impregnation of the whole brain of the frog Rana esculenta is described. It uses an isotonic 2% osmium tetroxide solution buffered with sodium barbital at pH 7.2 that has previously been used for electron microscopy. To 15 ml of this solution 85 ml 3% potassium dichromate is added just before use. Twelve-hour treatments (6 hr in the chrome-osmium solution plus 6 hr in 0.75% silver nitrate) are sufficient to obtain consistently excellent impregnations of external brain formations. Twenty-four-hour treatments (12 hr in the chrome-osmium solution and 12 hr in the silver solution) impregnate also the deeper regions of the brain. The results show neuronal details on a clear background.
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology*; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000166:cytology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology; D011893:Rana esculenta; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology*; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000166:cytology