Poster and Exhibit Abstracts ( In alphabetical order by author )

Hearing loss, vestibular disorders and damaged eyesight can be the result of axonal degeneration (Int Jour Ped Otrlaryn, 61:1-15; Inst Opthalm, 7:109-125). Improper functioning of the myelin sheath may be responsible for this degeneration, due to its role in conducting chemical and electrical neural signaling. Investigation of myelin degeneration requires understanding of normal myelinogenesis during development. Anatomical characterizations are typically the first step in formulating mechanistic understanding with new model systems. Luxol Fast Blue has often been paired with various counterstains as a way to stain myelin sheaths, including the Kluver-Barrera method with Cresyl Violet (J Neuropath Exp Neurol, 12: 400-403). The acidic Luxol stain binds to the phospholipids of the myelin sheath, whereas Cresyl Violet stains Nissl bodies. However, some recent protocols have utilized Neutral Red as a replacement to Cresyl Violet as a Nissl body counterstain due to its greater contrast to the blue stain (Stain Technl, 37: 13-16). Using Xenopus laevis larvae as a model, we prepared a new method for Luxol Fast Blue myelin stain with Neutral Red counterstain. Results revealed substantial differentiation of tissue, with red Nissl bodies and dark blue myelin. This method will be used for histological staining to detect the earliest stage of myelination of the VIIIth acoustic-vestibular nerve in Xenopus, which has not yet been determined. Supported by NIH (R25NS080685, P20RR016480).