02381nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653002100065653001600086653002300102653001100125653004000136653001200176653001800188653002900206653002100235653002300256653002200279653002000301653001700321653002400338100001300362700002100375245008700396300001000483490000700493520154100500022001402041       1994                            d  c1994 Mar10aAxons10aCryopreservation10aHematoxylin10aHistocytochemistry10aHumans10aImage Processing, Computer-Assisted10aleprosy10aMyelin Sheath10aNerve Fibers, Myelinated10aOsmium Tetroxide10aParaffin Embedding10aPeripheral nerves10aSilver Staining10aTibial Nerve10aWounds and Injuries1 aMiko T L1 aGschmeissner S E00aHistological methods for assessing myelin sheaths and axons in human nerve trunks.  a68-770 v693 a<p>Although there are many histological techniques for assessing myelin sheaths and axons in paraffin embedded or frozen sections of the peripheral nervous system, modern approaches usually use plastic embedded material. Although plastic embedding is superior for small cutaneous branches, this method has limited value for histological assessment of nerve trunks. We report three methods which together yield a comprehensive approach for thorough and detailed investigation of human nerve trunks. The rapid osmication method permitted assessment of myelinated nerve fibers from frozen sections at operation, thus providing the surgeon with guidance on the extent of nerve resection. The modification presented here resulted in permanent slides, allowing comparison of results with those of the other two procedures. The new osmium-hematoxylin technique could be performed on paraffin embedded nerves. Paraffin, unlike plastic, permitted the study of the whole cross sectional area of the nerve in single sections. Moreover, the sharp image of the myelin permitted computerized morphometry. The significantly modified axonal silver impregnation technique was performed on frozen sections mounted on glass slides, as opposed to the time-consuming impregnation of free-floating sections. The latter technique had a high success rate and permitted semiquantitative assessment of axons in nerve trunks. These methods can be performed in any routine histology laboratory and resulted in greater accuracy compared to conventional methods.</p>  a1052-0295