AbstractA rapid method for macroscopic and microscopic investigation of human CNS is proposed. After formalin fixation, gelatin or agarose embedding, and cryoprotective treatment, frozen human spinal cords, brainstems, or hemispheres can be serially cut into 0.7 mm thick slices. Stained with gallocyanin- chromalum, these slices facilitate cytoarchitectonic, neuropathologic, and quantitative examination. Regions of interest from parallel formalin-stored unstained slices can be embedded into paraffin and stained by any immunocytologic and histologic stain compatible with formalin fixation and paraffin embedding. (The J Histotechnol14:167, 1991)