Back to the future: improving storage of Golgi-stained mouse brain

Morphological analysis of neuronal processes and their networks is a key aspect of neuroscience, with relevance from basic research to clinical practice due to the central role of neuronal development and plasticity in many neurological disorders. More than a century after its introduction, Golgi staining, a technique based on the random precipitation of metallic deposits in different neuronal subtypes, remains a highly valuable method for investigating the cellular morphology of neurons in the nervous system. Despite the wide range of protocols developed over the years, several limitations of the technique remain a matter of discussion. Among these is the need to extend sample preservation during the interval between staining and sectioning procedures without compromising the quality of the histochemical labeling. By adopting a specific processing method, the present study demonstrates that it is possible to embed murine nervous tissue following Golgi staining and to preserve the samples for extended periods prior to sectioning, while maintaining well-preserved and clearly detectable histochemical labeling across different regions and neurons of the mouse central nervous system.