FD NeuroTech/FD Rapid TimmStain™ Kit/1kit/PK701

Timm’s sulphide silver method has so far been considered a very sensitive technique for demonstrating metal ions, in particular zinc in the central nervous system. The principle of this technique is that metals in the tissue can be transformed histochemically to metal sulphides. Subsequently, metal sulphides catalyze the reduction of silver ions by a reducing agent to metallic grains that are visible under a light or electron microscope.

Studies using this technique have provided a better understanding of not only the localization and distribution of zinc but also its possible function in the brain¹. However, the reliability and complexity of Timm’s sulphide silver staining have been major obstacles to the widespread application of this technique.

FD Rapid TimmStain™ Kit is designed based on the methods described by Haug¹ and Sloviter². The reagents and procedure of the FD Rapid TimmStain™ Kit have been optimized to achieve a high degree of both specificity and sensitivity for the demonstration of metal ions, especially zinc in the brain of experimental animals. The kit can be used with both frozen and paraffin sections.

Kit contents:

Part 1 (Store at 4^oC)

• Perfusate A 500 ml
• Perfusate B 500 ml

Part 2 (Store at -20^oC)

• Solution A 220 ml
• Solution B 200 ml
• Solution C 200 ml
• Solution D 3 ml
• Plastic forceps1
• User Manual 1

Materials required but not included:

• Double distilled or deionized water
• 10% neutral buffered formalin
• 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4)
• Histological supplies and equipment:
• Microscope slides
• Coverslips
• Staining jars
• Xylenes or xylene substitutes
• Resinous mounting medium (e.g. Permount^®)
• A light microscope

Permount^® is a registered trademark of Fisher Scientific.

References:

1. Haug FMS. (1973) Heavy metals in the brain: a light microscope study of the rat with Timm’s sulphide silver method. Methodological considerations and cytological and regional staining patterns. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York.
2. Sloviter RS. (1982) A simplified Timm stain procedure compatible with formaldehyde fixation and routine paraffin embedding of rat brain. Brain Res. Bulletin. 8:771-4.