A modified Bodian stain for routine quantitative assessment of axonal degeneration in teased nerve fibers

We present a modified Bodian method for staining axons in teased peripheral nerves. For test materials, guinea pig sciatic nerves, intact and cut in situ, were removed 3, 4 and 5 days after surgery. Notable characteristics of the stain are a strong contrast between the axon and surrounding myelin and easy detection of nodes of Ranvier. The method is suitable for the quantitative assessment of axonal degeneration.