[Method for the morphological identification of individual brain neurons intravitally and after fixation]

Pyramidal neurons stained with methylen blue (from layers III and V of the cat brain cortex) are revealed in vivo after a special preparation of the contact objectives in the reflecting light. Small pieces of the brain tissue with identified neurons were separated under visual control, after which an oriented piece placed in a special grid-basket appeared to be stabilized by the borders of the grid. This method permits investigating the same neurons after fixation by means of histological light or electron microscope techniques.