Histochemistry of Staining Methods for Normal and Degenerating Myelin in the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems

This review summarizes the function, structure, and chemistry of the myelin sheaths of axons: discusses the mechanisms of several staining techniques using inorganic compounds, dyes, and antibodies; and provides technical instructions for 13 staining methods for normal and degenerating myelin. Myelin has alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers. The former contain the hydrocarbon tails of lipid molecules and hydrophobic segments of...