A Practical Refinement of Golgi Staining for Cortical Neuronal Morphology

Golgi-based staining remains a valuable method for visualising the full morphology of individual neurons, however conventional workflows can be slow, variable, and technically demanding. Here, we present a modified staining protocol designed to provide a practical workflow for Golgi-based labelling in mouse cortical tissue. The revised workflow combines controlled fixation, dichromate impregnation, silver development, vibratome sectioning, and slide processing conditions that support visualisation of neuronal somata and dendritic architecture. In the tissue examined here, the protocol produced stained tissue with discernible neuronal morphology and was suitable for morphological assessment using standard light microscopy and image analysis software. Overall, this method may be useful for laboratories seeking a straightforward and cost-conscious protocol for neuronal morphology.