Comprehensive Review of Golgi Staining Methods for Nervous Tissue

Abstract

Golgi staining has been modified and developed since Camillo Golgi introduced the black reaction in 1873. This study focuses on the commonly used Golgi staining methods and presents comprehensive data regarding three Golgi staining methods along with their strong and weak points. The Golgi-Cox method uses mercuric chloride for brain tissue impregnation and is a reliable technique for analyzing the complete dendritic tree of cortical neurons. However, specimens tend to shrink during the staining steps. Recent combination of the Golgi-Cox method and immunofluorescence provides additional options for neuroscientists. Rapid Golgi staining requires osmium tetroxide for the postfixation process. It homogenously stains whole structures of neurons and provides their detailed anatomical morphology. This staining is influenced by the age of the specimen, temperature of the laboratory, and duration of each procedure. The Golgi-Kopsch method uses formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde instead of osmium tetroxide and can be used regardless of the age of the specimen and the duration after fixation. This method is suitable for research using human brain fixed for a long time or for specimens obtained from old-aged animals. Selecting a Golgi staining protocol that is appropriate for the specimen type and research purpose is important to achieve best results.

Gold Nanoparticles for X-ray Microtomography of Neurons

“…These images confirm the possibility of using X-ray micro-CT for whole brain tissue imaging, with an isotropic spatial resolution (isotropic voxel size of 0.74 μm). Nevertheless, as reported in other studies, 16 the Golgi method randomly stains a few neurons, explaining the small amount of detected cellular bodies of neurons in our images. To observe the distribution of cells in a large sample and not only the morphology of a single isolated neuron, 16 it is necessary to consider other staining methods, such as the IHC-gold method described in the next section.…”

Somato‐dendritic morphology and axon origin site specify von Economo neurons as a subclass of modified pyramidal neurons in the human anterior cingulate cortex

“…This grouping was more pronounced on rapid Golgi than on Golgi‐Cox, which could be attributed to methodological differences between the two staining methods (Koyama, ; Kang et al. ). The observed differences in VEN soma Areas and in the thickness of intermediate segments between rapid Golgi and Golgi‐Cox could be also explained by a higher shrinkage factor present on Golgi‐Cox staining (Koyama, ; Kang et al.…”

“…; Kang et al. ). The Golgi methods were used alternately on adjacent blocks from a total of five human brains (Table ).…”

Golgi‐Cox Staining of Neuronal Dendrites and Dendritic Spines With FD Rapid GolgiStain™ Kit

“…Despite being developed more than 140 years ago, the Golgi techniques continue to be used as the standard for visualizing the morphology of neurons, especially dendrites and dendritic spines. Although many variations of the Golgi method have since been introduced (for review, see Braak & Braak, ; Koyama, , Kang et al., ; Millhouse, ), all Golgi methods, including their modifications, can be classified into two major impregnation techniques. Both of them ultimately lead to either the precipitation of silver chromate (the silver Golgi technique) or to the production of metallic mercury and, probably, complex oxides of mercury (the mercurial Golgi technique) in nerve tissue (Braak & Braak, ).…”

“…In addition, because of a low background, Golgi‐Cox‐impregnated sections can be easily counterstained with basic dyes, such as cresyl violet (Glaser & Van der Loos, ; Ramón‐Moliner, ). With numerous modifications and improvements, the Golgi‐Cox method has been regarded as one of the most effective techniques for demonstrating the cell bodies and the complete dendritic tree of cortical neurons (Buell, ; Kang et al., ; Koyama, ).…”