Nissl Staining Technology

The Nissl stain is an imaging technique performed on fixed tissue that stains genetic material. One of the oldest methods of viewing neurons, the Nissl stain uses cresyl violet acetate or toluidine blue to permanently stain genetic material, changing the color of molecules of DNA and RNA. Nissl staining can be used to help identify where structures in the brain are located. The Nissl stain is also one of the most histological tools for visualizing the spinal cord in cross section, especially because the spinal cord has very well defined gray matter versus white matter areas.