Overview
Golgi staining reveals the complete morphology of individual neurons, including dendrites and spines, by depositing metal salts in a small fraction of cells. It remains a powerful technique for studying neuronal structure.
The Golgi-Cox Method
In the Golgi-Cox variant, tissue is impregnated with a mercuric chloride–potassium dichromate solution over several days, then sectioned (often on a vibratome) and developed to visualise the impregnated neurons against a light background.
Key Practical Steps
- Impregnate freshly harvested tissue in the dark for a controlled period (commonly 7–21 days).
- Section at 80–200 µm on a vibratome to capture complete dendritic arbors.
- Develop, dehydrate and mount sections on slides with care to avoid crushing.
Why Vibratome Sectioning Helps
Golgi-impregnated tissue is fragile and must be cut without freezing. A vibratome produces clean, thick sections that preserve the full extent of dendritic trees — essential for accurate morphological measurement.
Analysis
Sections are traced under bright-field microscopy to quantify dendrite length, branching and spine density, providing direct insight into structural plasticity.