PRACTICAL WORKSHOP ON HISTOLOGY, CYTOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY - 2016

Chapter 4. TISSUES

Slide 58. Basophilic substance (Nissl bodies) in spinal cord neurons.

Staining: toluidine blue or Nissl thionine.

Magnification: x400.

Special staining of Nervous Tissue with toluidine blue or thionine clearly reveals the basophilic substance (basophilic substance, tigroid substance) within Neurons. These are clusters of granular Endoplasmic reticulum where intensive Protein Synthesis takes place, which is characteristic of Nerve Cells.

Under low magnification, neurons (1) are clearly outlined in the ventral horns of the Spinal Cord. These are large multipolar neurons (motor neurons) with a stellate shape. Inside, There is a typical vesicular Nucleus (2) and a darkly stained nucleolus (3). Blue clumps and granules (4)—representing chromatophilic substance or Nissl substance (tigroid)—are evenly distributed in the neuron Cytoplasm. Such clumps are also observed in the proximal segments of dendrites. Small nuclei of gliocytes (5) can be distinguished between the neurons.

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Slide 58. Basophilic substance (Nissl bodies) in spinal cord neurons.



Last update: 07/08/2026

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