Light Microscopic Assessment - Animal Models of Acute Neurological Injuries: Injury and Mechanistic Assessments - page 457

Chapter 36

Light Microscopic Assessment

Akira Munakata , Norihito Shimamura , and Hiroki Ohkuma

Abstract

Light microscopy is a fundamental and essential assessment for cerebral vasospasm since the degree of
cerebral vasospasm has been evaluated by angiography or light microscopy. Its methodology has already
been established. Immunohistological study is also an important assessment for vasospasm since the local-
ization of the substance that causes or affects cerebral vasospasm can be easily detected.

Key words: Light microscopy, Hematoxylin and Eosin staining, Elastica van Gieson staining,
Immunostaining

1. Introduction

In many previous experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage studies,
morphological assessment using light microscopic examination was
used to evaluate the degree of cerebral vasospasm and to clarify the
mechanism of sustained construction. So, light microscopic exami-
nation is a fundamental and essential technique in the research of
cerebral vasospasm. Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining, elastica
van Gieson staining, and immunostaining have been mainly used in
light microscopic examinations for cerebral vasospasm. Some varia-
tions of materials and methods of these staining have been reported,
so standard materials and methods are presented in this chapter.

2. Materials

Paraffi n (Melting point 58°C).
Graded Ethanol (70%, 80%, 90%, 99.5%, 100%).

2.1. Embedding
Procedure