Silver stain

There are a number of variations in the use of silver as a stain, but each involves the precipitation of reduced silver onto tissue elements.  These images show silver staining of neurons (left) and reticular fibers (right).  Structures that stain with silver are referred to as argyrophilic. Cerebral cortex 1000x, Lymph node 1000x

There are a number of variations in the use of silver as a stain, but each involves the precipitation of reduced silver onto tissue elements.  These images show silver staining of neurons (left) and reticular fibers (right).  Structures that stain with silver are referred to as argyrophilic. Cerebral cortex 1000x, Lymph node 1000x

Reticular fibers are a type of connective tissue fiber that stains with silver due their unique chemical composition.  Reticular fibers branch, providing the major support framework for lymphoid organs such as lymph node and spleen. Reticular fibers also surround blood vessels (green arrow) as well as being widely distributed throughout connective tissue proper.

Image taken of a slide from the Virtual Microscopy Laboratory (http://www.histologyguide.com)