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Timm's sulfide silver reaction for zinc during experimental anterograde degeneration of hippocampal mossy fibers
Author(s) -
Haug F.M. Š.,
Blackstad T. W.,
Simonsen A. H.,
Zimmer J.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.901420103
Subject(s) - fascia dentata , mossy fiber (hippocampus) , silver stain , hippocampal formation , biology , hippocampus , degeneration (medical) , anatomy , neuroscience , staining , zinc , biophysics , chemistry , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , genetics , organic chemistry , dentate gyrus
The boutons of the hippocampal mossy fibers stain particularly well with Timm's sulfide silver reaction for zinc and other metals. In the present study anterograde degeneration was produced in the mossy fibers in the rat by placing lesions in the fascia dentata, after which the Timm reaction was checked at different postoperative intervals. No unequivocal changes were seen as early as five hours after operation. Barely discernible blanching of the affected parts of the mossy fiber layer was observed after seven hours, a significant reduction of stainability was present after ten hours, and a nearly complete loss after 24 hours. The latter situation persisted for the rest of the period studied, viz., up to eight days after operation. Topographical coincidence of reduced Timm staining with areas of anterograde degeneration was verified by impregnating alternating sections of the sulfide treated tissue according to the reduced silver method of Fink and Heimer. These sections moreover confirmed that the affected boutons retain their structural identity for at least several days after the disappearance of the stainability with Timm's method. These findings are compatible with the concept that the zinc may be associated with some rapidly metabolized substance directly or indirectly involved in synaptic transmission.