Golgi Stain Service: Detailed Visualization of Neurons and Dendritic Architecture 

At iHisto, we offer expert Golgi staining to reveal full neuronal morphology — including dendrites, axons, and soma — in rodent brain and spinal cord tissues. This technique remains the gold standard for tracing individual neurons in research involving development, injury, and degeneration.

🧪 Overview 

The Golgi stain is a classical silver chromate-based neurohistological method that randomly labels a sparse population of neurons in their entirety. Unlike most stains, it allows visualization of:

• Entire neuronal soma, dendritic trees, and axons

• Fine branching and spine structures

• Neurons isolated from surrounding cellular clutter

At iHisto, our carefully optimized Golgi protocol ensures clear, high-resolution images with strong contrast and minimal background, supporting both academic research and preclinical CNS studies.

⚙️ How the Golgi Stain Works 

The stain is based on a silver chromate precipitation reaction between potassium dichromate and silver nitrate. The reaction occurs selectively in a small number of neurons, creating dark black or brown deposits within neuronal structures.

Stain Results:

• Neuronal soma, axons, dendrites → black/dark brown

• Background → clear or lightly toned

• Spines and arborizations → often visible with high clarity

This “sparse labeling” effect enables unobstructed tracing of individual cells.

🧬 Step-by-Step Staining Process 

1. Tissue Preparation
   Fresh or formalin-fixed brain or spinal cord is immersed in potassium dichromate for several days.

2. Silver Nitrate Impregnation
   Tissue is transferred to silver nitrate solution, forming silver chromate inside neurons.

3. Sectioning
   Tissue is sectioned via vibratome (for thick, high-resolution slices) or paraffin microtomy.

4. Mounting and Dehydration
   Sections are mounted on slides, then dehydrated and cleared.

5. Coverslipping
   Slides are sealed with a silver-compatible medium for long-term storage.

⚠️ Note: Due to biological variability, staining quality may vary; batch QC and careful timing are key.

⚙️ Our Semi-Automated Golgi Workflow 

Although Golgi staining is labor-intensive, iHisto standardizes the process with:

• Controlled impregnation environment for reproducibility

• Batch-specific tracking and QA

• Optional vibratome sectioning (80–200 µm) for 3D morphology

• Coverslipping optimized for long-term clarity of silver precipitate

🔬 Applications of Golgi Staining 

This stain is ideal for full-neuron mapping in CNS research.

Common applications include:

• Neurodevelopment – Dendritic growth and arborization

• Neurotoxicity – Spine density loss, axonal degeneration

• Neurodegeneration – Alzheimer’s, ALS, Parkinson’s models

• Comparative neuroanatomy – Brain region analysis

• Neuron classification – Based on branching patterns and somatic size

✅ Why Choose iHisto’s Golgi Staining Services 

• ✅ Full structural visualization of neurons and dendrites

• ✅ Works with both fresh and fixed neural tissue

• ✅ Vibratome or paraffin sectioning available

• ✅ Digitization for 3D reconstruction and remote analysis

• ✅ Technical guidance for brain region targeting or experimental setup

We partner with neuroscience labs, CROs, and pharma teams for precise neuronal imaging.

❓ FAQs 

• What does the Golgi stain highlight?
  Entire neurons — including soma, dendrites, axons, and spines — with high structural fidelity.

• Can it be used on formalin-fixed tissue?
  Yes. While fresh tissue yields optimal results, our protocol adapts for fixed tissue with timing adjustments.

• What section thickness do you use?
  Typically 80–200 µm for vibratome sections, and 5–10 µm for paraffin-based histology.

• Can slides be scanned?
  Yes. We offer high-resolution whole-slide scanning suitable for 3D morphometry or digital archiving.

📩 Request a Quote or Consultation

At iHisto, we deliver precision Golgi staining to support your CNS research goals. From dendritic tracing to axonal injury assessment, our protocol uncovers what standard stains can’t.

👉 Request a Quote or email us at info@ihisto.io