Table 2.
Examples of common stains and antibodies used to observe brain slices *.
| Specificity | Name of Stain/Antibody | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Histology (Not cell-type-specific) | Hemotoxylin and Eosin (H & E) | Neurons (axons) |
| Cresyl violet (Nissl staining) | Neurons (somata) | |
| Luxol Fast Blue | Myelin (fatty acid sheath surrounding axons) | |
| Immunohistochemistry (Cell-type-specific) | Anti-NeuN a, Anti-MAP-2 b | Neurons |
| Anti-GFAP c | Astrocytes | |
| Anti-CD68 d, Anti-ED1 e, Anti-Iba1 f, Anti-OX42 g | Microglia/macrophages | |
| Anti-Neurofilament 200 | Neurofilaments | |
| Anti-Vimentin | Vimentin (both present in astrocytes and epithelial cells of meningeal fibroblasts) | |
| Anti-fibronectin | Extracellular matrix (ECM) protein (up-regulated in central nervous system (CNS) scar tissue) | |
| Anti-IgG h | BBB bleach |
* Not an exhaustive list; a NeuN: Neuronal Nuclear Antigen; b MAP-2: Microtubule-Associated Protein 2; c GFAP: Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; d CD68: Cluster of Differentiation 68 ; e ED1: Anti-CD68 Antibody; f Iba1: Ionized Calcium-binding Adapter Molecule 1; g OX42: Anti-CD11b/c Antibody; h IgG: Immunoglobulin G.