Which two components are demonstrated by Cresyl echt violet and Crystal violet, respectively?

• A. Nissl substance; Astrocytes and glial fibers
• B. Myelin; Astrocytes
• C. Astrocytes; Myelin
• D. Glial fibers; Nissl substance

Answer: (A)

In this staining approach, basic dyes reveal different cellular components because they bind to distinct chemical targets in tissue. Cresyl echt violet highlights RNA-rich areas, so it stains the rough endoplasmic reticulum in neurons—the Nissl substance—making neuronal cell bodies and their cytoarchitecture stand out. Crystal violet, used alongside it in this context, provides contrast that makes astrocytes and their glial fibers more visible, emphasizing the glial networks within the CNS. So the two components demonstrated are the Nissl substance in neurons and the astrocytes with their glial fibers.