Applications:

• Used for the detection of various metals in tissue, e.g. Bi, Cu, Hg and others. Contact NSA to request a different metal for detection.

Advantages:

• Provides staining exclusive to a particular metal.

** NSA is the sole commercial provider of this stain.

Specifications:

• Use either perfusion solution 2 or 3, found in NSA's perfusion protocols for optimized staining.

Autometallography is a histological technique that exploits the presence of metal ions in tissue to act as a nucleation point around which silver ions are gathered to create a visible reaction product. The process is called "physical development". The Timms silver sulphide method is the most well known autometallography procedure and it favors the revelation of zinc.

Gorm Danscher in Denmark has championed the application of autometallography for detecting various metals in tissue. Another contributor, F. Gallyas of Hungary, has developed a family of physical developers that broaden the capability of autometallography.

Shown are neurons in the hypoglossal nucleus of a mouse that was chronically administered bismuth sub-salicylate. The location of bismuth was revealed using an acidic physical developer described by Gallyas.

(Ross, J. F., Switzer, R. C. III, Poston, M. R. and Lawhorn, G. T.. Distribution of bismuth in the brain after intraperitoneal dosing of bismuth subnitrate in mice: Implications for routes of entry of xenobiotic metals into the brain. Brain Res. 725, 137-154, 1996.)

For futher reference, please see: Stains

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