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Nervous Tissue: Myelin

Nervous Tissue: Myelin

The myelin sheath is a multilayered lipid and protein covering that insulates the axon of a neuron, enhancing the speed of nerve impulse conduction. Axons without this sheath are referred to as unmyelinated. Two types of neuroglia, Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) are responsible for producing myelin sheaths.
Schwann cells begin to form myelin sheaths around axons during fetal development. They wrap around a small...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Experimental Demyelination and Remyelination of Murine Spinal Cord by Focal Injection of Lysolecithin

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Published on: March 26, 2015

Myelin Methods: A Mini-Review.

Brad Bolon¹, Amber Moser², Elizabeth Chlipala²

¹GEMpath, Inc., Longmont, Colorado, USA.

Toxicologic Pathology

|January 20, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Hematoxylin and eosin staining detects major neural tissue changes, but specialized myelin stains are crucial for identifying subtle damage to myelin sheaths. These advanced neurohistological methods improve the evaluation of myelin integrity in neuropathology.

Keywords:

myelin nervous system neurohistology neuropathology nonclinical toxicity safety testing

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Published on: March 20, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Histopathology
Biochemistry

Background:

Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining is a standard method for initial assessment of neural tissue structure.
H&E has limitations in detecting subtle subcellular alterations and evaluating myelin integrity.
Myelin, a crucial component of neural tissue, requires specific staining techniques for accurate assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

To review and compare various neurohistological methods for evaluating myelin integrity.
To highlight the advantages of specific myelin stains over H&E for detecting subtle neuropathological changes.
To guide the selection of appropriate myelin staining techniques based on study objectives and practical considerations.

Main Methods:

Discussion of acidophilic dyes (eriochrome cyanine R, toluidine blue) and lipoprotein-binding dyes (Luxol fast blue, Weil's iron hematoxylin).
Inclusion of lipid impregnation techniques (Marchi's method with osmium tetroxide).
Exploration of immunohistochemical (IHC) methods targeting myelin antigens (MBP, PMP22) and damage markers (MMP9, S100).

Main Results:

H&E is effective for gross structural changes but lacks sensitivity for myelin alterations.
Specialized myelin stains offer enhanced sensitivity for detecting subtle myelin damage and integrity.
IHC methods can identify specific molecular markers associated with myelin damage.

Conclusions:

Myelin stains are essential second-tier procedures in neuropathology, complementing H&E for comprehensive neuroaxonal injury assessment.
The choice of myelin staining method depends on factors like cost, fixation, embedding medium, and research goals.
Advanced neurohistological techniques are vital for a thorough understanding of myelin pathology.