Staining Pineal Parenchyma by A Modified Hortega Method After Paraffin Embedding

Abstract

Fresh pineal glands are fixed in 10% formalin at room temperature for about 3 days. After washing, dehydrating and clearing they are embedded in paraffin, sectioned and mounted. The tissues are placed in 10% silver nitrate for 24 hours, washed and impregnated in strong silver carbonate. The sections are reduced in 10% formalin, washed and toned in gold chloride, fixed in 5% hyposulfite, counterstained with erythrosin and mounted in Canada balsam. The processes of the pineal parenchymatous cells of the sheep, cow and man have been successfully stained by this method.