A Metachromatic Stain for Neural Tissue

Abstract

Thionin was reliably used as a polychrome stain for sections of neural tissue obtained from a freezing microtome. Nissl substance of dendrites and cell bodies stained the typical blue of thionin. Fiber tract bundles stained red. There was little if any fading of colors on tissue left exposed to the light for up to a year. The stain was reused many times without noticeable change in staining properties.