The preferred fixative for the Bodian technique is

• A. NBF
• B. Bouin's
• C. Glutaraldehyde
• D. Alcohol

Answer: (A)

The Bodian silver-staining technique relies on preserving fine neural structures while keeping the tissue receptive to silver impregnation. Neutral buffered formalin provides that balance: it preserves overall tissue architecture with moderate cross-linking, which keeps fibers intact and visible, yet it doesn’t overly mask reactive sites or introduce reagents that would interfere with the silver deposition steps. This leads to clear, consistent staining with minimal background.

Bouin’s fixative, which contains picric acid, can leave a yellow background and may interact with the staining chemistry in ways that complicate silver deposition, and it can cause variable shrinkage of delicate fibers. Alcohol fixes tissues by dehydrating and hardening them, which can distort morphology and hinder uniform impregnation. Glutaraldehyde cross-links proteins very aggressively, often masking the sites needed for silver uptake and reducing staining effectiveness.