The occurrence of muscle spindles in the masticatory muscles: a methodological study of different staining techniques

A method, based on experiment, for more reliable and less time-consuming staining and examination of histological specimens for locating muscle spindles by light microscopy is presented. Sections from the masseter and temporal muscles of the rat were stained with different methods and studied in random order. The method giving the highest number of muscle spindles during scrutiny of the slides (Weigert's iron haematoxylin and van Gieson) is recommended for future studies on the numbers of muscle spindles in a given muscle.