If you observe blue glial fibers with brown matter in a PTAH-stained section, what does that pattern indicate about the borax-ferricyanide treatment?

• A. Borax-Ferricyanide was inadequately applied
• B. The section was overwashed
• C. The PTAH stain age
• D. The section was under-fixed

Answer: (A)

Blue glial fibers with brown matter shows that the borax-ferricyanide step did not develop the blue reaction fully. Borax-ferricyanide enhances and intensifies the blue color in glial filaments produced by PTAH, helping to convert or intensify the blue over other colors. When this step is inadequately applied, you can get a partial blue in the glial fibers while the surrounding matter remains brown, producing the observed pattern. This points to insufficient borax-ferricyanide treatment rather than a problem with fixation, stain age, or excessive washing.