Cresyl Echt Violet demonstrates which cellular substance?

• A. Nissl substance
• B. Amyloid
• C. Reticulin
• D. Melanin

Answer: (A)

Cresyl Echt Violet highlights Nissl substance, which are the rough endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes packed in the neuron’s soma and rich in RNA. Because RNA is basophilic, Cresyl Violet binds to these Nissl bodies and stains them a blue‑purple color, making the neuronal cell bodies stand out against surrounding tissue. This staining helps identify neurons and assess their health, since changes like dispersion or loss of Nissl substance (chromatolysis) indicate neuronal injury or distress.

Amyloid, reticulin, and melanin are visualized with other special stains: amyloid with Congo red or related dyes, reticulin with silver-based methods, and melanin with pigment-specific stains such as Fontana. Cresyl Violet does not target these materials, which is why the correct choice is Nissl substance.