SECTION TWO 



LUXOL FAST BLUE - CRESYL FAST VIOLET 



(After Kliiver and Barrera, 1954) 



For the combined staining of cells and fibres in the nervous 

 system, obviating the need for chromate treatment and 



haematoxylin 



Technique: 



Material should be fixed in 10% formalin. 



Paraffin or frozen sections give somewhat better results than 

 Celloidin. Affixed Celloidin give better results than loose Cel- 

 loidin sections. 



(a) Frozen sections 



1. Cut sections 25jLt in thickness and place them in distilled 

 water. 



2. Immerse in 70% alcohol for ten to fifteen minutes. 



3. Stain from five to twenty-four, but preferably not less than 

 sixteen hours, in the Luxol fast blue solution, in a stoppered jar 

 in an oven at 40° C. 



Note: For staining four sections of the brain stem of a monkey, 

 for example, 20 to 25 ml. of the stain should be used and then dis- 

 carded. 



4. Immerse in 95% alcohol and wash off the excess stain. 



5. Wash in distilled water. 



6. Immerse for two or three seconds, but no longer, in the 

 lithium carbonate solution, as the first stage of differentiation. 



K 277 



