While there are several stains that can be used to demonstrate myelin, all with different coloration, luxol fast blue (LFB) has been most useful in laboratories. LFB is used to demonstrate normal myelin as well as assessing wallerian degeneration in diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The loss of myelin sheath is known as demyelination. Demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), damage the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibers. LFB is used to assess this loss. In addition to demonstrating myelin, LFB also differentiates between white and gray matter of the brain.
