Comparison of Weigert stained sections with unfixed, unstained sections for study of myelin sheaths

Myelinated fibers can be demonstrated in thin unstained brain sections of freshly killed uninjected animals. With this method myelinated fibers stand out as clearly as in stained Weigert sections from formalin-fixed brains. Unstained unfixed sections can be viewed under ordinary light within minutes after death of the animal and immediately photographed for permanent records. Such sections have value for neuroanatomical studies, and for rapid localization of various types of experimental lesions.