Cajal and de Castro's Neurohistological Methods

Cajal and De Castro's Neurohistological Methods provides the first English translation of Fernando de Castro's 1933 publication "Elementos de Técnica Micrográfica del Sistema Nervioso." A student of the famed founder of modern neuroscience, with Santiago Ramon y Cajal also serving as the Editor of the original text, Fernando de Castro recorded all the various protocols that had been used in his laboratory by his students in order to provide a manual of histological procedures specifically designed for the fine structure of the nervous system. This renowned text is virtually unknown in its original form outside the Spanish-speaking world. In a text that reads like a mix between a recipe book and an alchemical manuscript, authors Miguel Merchan, Javier DeFelipe, and Fernando de Castro (descendant of the 1933 publication's author) put the new translation into historical context. This book is also beautifully illustrated with plates of histological techniques, provides a quick guide to new vocabulary, and the author's notes on the translated text. This pivotal work of classic neurohistological techniques is a wonderful addition to the Cajal library.

Table of Contents:
Principles of Micrographical Techniques for the Nervous System Dedication Preliminary Information List of Plates Section I Historical Context CHAPTER I Authors and Their Backgrounds by JAIME A. MERCHAN and JORGE PRIETO Section II Basic Histological Techniques Chapter II The Microscope and the Fixatives I. Microscope II. Fixatives Formaldehyde-based Fixatives Fixatives with Osmic Acid Fixatives Based on Hypnotic Substances CHAPTER III Decalcifying Agents CHAPTER IV General Dissociation Procedures Dissociation Sectioning Frozen Section Procedure (EN 8) Celloidin and Collodion Embedding Paraffin Embedding Gelatin Embedding Superficial Paraffin Imbedding CHAPTER V Handling and Mounting Serial Sections Sections of celloidin-embedded material Sections of paraffin-embedded material CHAPTER VI General Staining Methods Some Remarks on the Staining Process Sources and Composition of Dyes CHAPTER VII Formulae for Carmine and Haematoxylin Double and Triple Stains Modifications of the Iron-Haematoxylin. Methods for the Staining of Mitochondria CHAPTER VIII Section Mounting and Preservation Mounting Sections that Require Previous Dehydration and Clarifying Section Mounting without Dehydration and Clarifying Section III Special Techniques CHAPTER IX Methods for the Demonstration of Neuronal Morphology CHAPTER X Continuation of the Methods for Demonstrating the Morphology of Neurons Fixation, Sectioning and Mounting Techniques for Methylene Blue Stained Material CHAPTER XI Methods to Study the Structure of the Nerve Cell Nissl Chromatic Bodies Methods for Staining the Neurofibrils Silver Impregnation Methods Impregnation Of The Golgi Apparatus Demonstration of Plastosomes, Centrosome, Oxidases and Pigmentary Spherules Nucleus and Cell Membrane CHAPTER XII Staining of Neuronal Axons in the Centres CHAPTER XIII Myelin Staining CHAPTER XIV Colouration of the Macroglia, Microglia and Oligodendroglia Macroglia Demonstration of the Gliosomes and Mitochondria Impregnation of Oligodendroglia and Microglia CHAPTERXV Methods to Demonstrate the Connective Tissue Methods For Staining The Connective Tissue Impregnation Methods for Connective Tissue Supravital Staining with Acidic Dyes CHAPTER XVI Methods for the Demonstration of Substances Produced by Alterations of the Cell Metabolism Demonstration of some Cell Granules Demonstration of Fats and Lipoid Substances Demonstration of Ferric Pigments Demonstration of non-Ferric Pigments Glycogen Demonstration Demonstration of Amyloid Substance and Corpora Amylacea Demonstration of Hyaline Degeneration Calcareous Substances CHAPTER XVII Methods for the Demonstration of the Peripheral Nerves under both Normal and Pathological Conditions Demonstration of Ranvier Nodes Methods to Stain the Schwann Cells Methods for Myelin Staining Lantermann Incisures; Spiral Apparatus; Spinous Double Bracelet; Neurokeratin Network (EN 48) Demonstration of the Cylinder-Axis and Neurofibrils Demonstration of the Connective Tissue of Nerve Trunks (Endoneurium, Perineurium and Epineurium) CHAPTER XVIII Methods for the Demonstration of Peripheral Nerve Endings Gold Chloride Methods Demonstration of Nerve Endings with the Golgi Method Demonstration of Peripheral Nerve Endings with Ehrlich's Methylene Blue Procedure Neurofibrillary Methods Capable of Demonstrating the Nerve Endings Methods to Demonstrate the Nerve Trunks and Nerve Endings in Organs Protected by Bone Tissue Procedures for Staining the Sympathetic and Dorsal Root Ganglia CHAPTERXIX Techniques for the Demonstration of the Nervous Tissue of Invertebrates Methods Capable of Revealing the Morphology of Neurons Methods for Staining Neurofibrils CHAPTER XX Methods for Demonstrating some Pathogenic Microorganisms Demonstration of the Syphilis Treponema Demonstration of the Trypanosomes in Sleeping Sickness Colouration of Negri Bodies in Rabies Demonstration of the Tuberculosis Bacillus Editors' Notes Vocabulary by the Editors Bibliography

About the Author :
Miguel A. Merhcán is a Professor of Histology at the University of Salamanca in Spain. Javier De Felipe is Profesor de Investigación at the Instituto Cajal (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas) and Centro de Tecnología Biomédica in Madrid, Spain. Fernando de Castro is a member of the Instituto Cajal, Grupo de Neurobiologia del Desarrollo-GNDe and Instituto Cajal (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas) in Madrid, Spain.

Review :
The published translation now reviews the "recipes" that forever changed the study of the nervous system. Thanks to the work of Merchán, de Castro and DeFelipe, the histological procedures that allowed the identification of neurons are now available worldwide.