Demonstration of vessels in CNS and other organs by AMG silver enhancement of colloidal gold particles dispersed in gelatine.
We present a new autometallographic technique for demonstrating vessels and other small cavities at light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopy (EM) levels. It is possible to obtain detailed knowledge of the 3-D appearance of the vascular system by exchanging blood with a 40 degrees C, 8% gelatine solution containing colloidal gold particles (gold gelatine solution, GGS) and ensuing silver enhancement of the gold particles by autometallography (AMG). The GGS-AMG technique demonstrates the vascular system as a dark web that can be studied in cryostat, vibratome, methacrylate, paraffin and Epon sections at all magnifications. The infused GGS becomes increasingly viscous and finally becomes rigid when the temperature falls below 20 degrees C. An additional advantage of this technique is the fact that none of the tested counterstains or immunotechniques interfere with this AMG approach. The GGS-AMG technique is demonstrated on rat brains but can be applied to any organ. We believe that the present technique is valuable for both experimental studies and routine pathology.
Danscher
G
G
Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Aarhus, Denmark. gd@neuro.aau.dk
Andreasen
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D005780:Gelatin; D017979:Gold Colloid; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016622:Silver Staining / Q000379:methods*
D017979:Gold Colloid; D005780:Gelatin