Slide 31. Pyramidal and stellate neurons and neuroglia of the cerebral cortex, Silver impregnation
Explains how silver impregnation blackens neurons and glia in the cerebral cortex, staining whole cells with their processes. Describes how to recognise pyramidal neurons, stellate granule neurons and astrocytes by their shape and dendrite arrangement. Contrasts the view with the Nissl stain, which shows cell bodies but not long processes, and points back to related theory topics.
Inside: 1 section · 1 min
Topic 120 of 127 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Cytology (Dental Medicine, Year 1). The free AceMed note covers it in 1 section, about 125 words (1 min of reading).
In this note
Introduction
Introduction
Silver impregnation blackens only some cells, but it stains them whole, with all their processes. This makes it ideal for seeing the shapes of neurons and glia in the cerebral cortex.
Stain
Silver impregnation: cells and processes black on a yellow-brown background.
How to recognise it
Pyramidal neurons: triangular cell bodies with a long apical dendrite pointing towards the brain surface, basal dendrites spreading sideways, and an axon running down into the white matter.
Stellate (granule) neurons: small, star-shaped, with short dendrites in all directions.
Astrocytes: star-shaped glial cells with many processes, some ending on blood vessels.
Don't confuse it with: the Nissl stain, which shows cell bodies and Nissl bodies but not the long processes.
Theory: topics 64 (types of neurons) and 68 (neuroglia).
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