Unmyelinated Nerve Fiber Estimation by Immunocytochemistry. Correlation with Electron Microscopy

摘要: Electron microscopy (EM) is currently required for quantitation of unmyelinated nerve fiber (UMNF) densities. time-consuming, costly, and generally only considers a fraction an entire nerve. Anti-PGP 9.5, which recognizes neuron-associated antigen, may be used in glutaraldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded human sural biopsies to identify axons. In nerves counterstained with Luxol fast blue, the correlation between EM-obtained UMNF densities paraffin-obtained was excellent (p < 0.0001). addition, myelinated (MNF) estimated by same method from gave traditional morphometric estimates = 0.0026). PGP 9.5 immunocytochemistry enables detection minute axons (< 0.5 microns) multiple per Schwann cell subunit, but does not allow preparation accurate size histograms or analysis pathology. Whether as qualitative review population nerve, this quicker less expensive than EM methodologies.