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Insausti R, Insausti AM, Muñoz López M, Medina Lorenzo I, Arroyo-Jiménez MDM, Marcos Rabal MP, de la Rosa-Prieto C, Delgado-González JC, Montón Etxeberria J, Cebada-Sánchez S, Raspeño-García JF, Iñiguez de Onzoño MM, Molina Romero FJ, Benavides-Piccione R, Tapia-González S, Wisse LEM, Ravikumar S, Wolk DA, DeFelipe J, Yushkevich P, Artacho-Pérula E. Ex vivo, in situ perfusion protocol for human brain fixation compatible with microscopy, MRI techniques, and anatomical studies. Front Neuroanat 2023; 17:1149674. [PMID: 37034833 PMCID: PMC10076536 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2023.1149674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a method for human brain fixation based on simultaneous perfusion of 4% paraformaldehyde through carotids after a flush with saline. The left carotid cannula is used to perfuse the body with 10% formalin, to allow further use of the body for anatomical research or teaching. The aim of our method is to develop a vascular fixation protocol for the human brain, by adapting protocols that are commonly used in experimental animal studies. We show that a variety of histological procedures can be carried out (cyto- and myeloarchitectonics, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, intracellular cell injection, and electron microscopy). In addition, ex vivo, ex situ high-resolution MRI (9.4T) can be obtained in the same specimens. This procedure resulted in similar morphological features to those obtained by intravascular perfusion in experimental animals, provided that the postmortem interval was under 10 h for several of the techniques used and under 4 h in the case of intracellular injections and electron microscopy. The use of intravascular fixation of the brain inside the skull provides a fixed whole human brain, perfectly fitted to the skull, with negligible deformation compared to conventional techniques. Given this characteristic of ex vivo, in situ fixation, this procedure can probably be considered the most suitable one available for ex vivo MRI scans of the brain. We describe the compatibility of the method proposed for intravascular fixation of the human brain and fixation of the donor's body for anatomical purposes. Thus, body donor programs can provide human brain tissue, while the remainder of the body can also be fixed for anatomical studies. Therefore, this method of human brain fixation through the carotid system optimizes the procurement of human brain tissue, allowing a greater understanding of human neurological diseases, while benefiting anatomy departments by making the remainder of the body available for teaching purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Insausti
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Ana María Insausti
- Department of Health, School of Medicine, Public University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Mónica Muñoz López
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Isidro Medina Lorenzo
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Maria del Mar Arroyo-Jiménez
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - María Pilar Marcos Rabal
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Carlos de la Rosa-Prieto
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - José Carlos Delgado-González
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Javier Montón Etxeberria
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Sandra Cebada-Sánchez
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Juan Francisco Raspeño-García
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - María Mercedes Iñiguez de Onzoño
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Molina Romero
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Ruth Benavides-Piccione
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Tapia-González
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Sadhana Ravikumar
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - David A. Wolk
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paul Yushkevich
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Emilio Artacho-Pérula
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
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St-Pierre MK, Šimončičová E, Carrier M, Tremblay MÈ. Microglia in Human Postmortem Brain Samples: Quantitative Ultrastructural Analysis of Scanning Electron Microscopy Images. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2561:63-85. [PMID: 36399265 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2655-9_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In this protocol, we describe the specific steps required to prepare human postmortem brain samples for ultrastructural microglial analysis. A detailed procedure is provided to improve the ultrastructural quality of the samples, using aldehyde fixatives followed by immunoperoxidase staining of allograft inflammatory factor 1 (AIF1, also known as IBA1), a marker of myeloid cells, and cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68), a marker of phagolysosomal activity. Additionally, we describe an osmium-thiocarbohydrazide-osmium (OTO) post-fixation method that preserves and increases the contrast of cellular membranes in human postmortem brain samples, as well as the steps necessary to acquire scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of microglial cell bodies. In the last section, we cover the quantitative analysis of various microglial cytoplasmic organelles and their interactions with other parenchymal elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Kim St-Pierre
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Eva Šimončičová
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Micaël Carrier
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada.
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3
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Krysztofiak A, Szymonowicz K, Hlouschek J, Xiang K, Waterkamp C, Larafa S, Goetting I, Vega-Rubin-de-Celis S, Theiss C, Matschke V, Hoffmann D, Jendrossek V, Matschke J. Metabolism of cancer cells commonly responds to irradiation by a transient early mitochondrial shutdown. iScience 2021; 24:103366. [PMID: 34825138 PMCID: PMC8603201 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer bioenergetics fuel processes necessary to maintain viability and growth under stress conditions. We hypothesized that cancer metabolism supports the repair of radiation-induced DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs). We combined the systematic collection of metabolic and radiobiological data from a panel of irradiated cancer cell lines with mathematical modeling and identified a common metabolic response with impact on the DSB repair kinetics, including a mitochondrial shutdown followed by compensatory glycolysis and resumption of mitochondrial function. Combining ionizing radiation (IR) with inhibitors of the compensatory glycolysis or mitochondrial respiratory chain slowed mitochondrial recovery and DNA repair kinetics, offering an opportunity for therapeutic intervention. Mathematical modeling allowed us to generate new hypotheses on general and individual mechanisms of the radiation response with relevance to DNA repair and on metabolic vulnerabilities induced by cancer radiotherapy. These discoveries will guide future mechanistic studies for the discovery of metabolic targets for overcoming intrinsic or therapy-induced radioresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Krysztofiak
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Klaudia Szymonowicz
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Julian Hlouschek
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Kexu Xiang
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Christoph Waterkamp
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biophysics, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Safa Larafa
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Isabell Goetting
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Silvia Vega-Rubin-de-Celis
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Carsten Theiss
- Department of Cytology, Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Veronika Matschke
- Department of Cytology, Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Daniel Hoffmann
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biophysics, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Verena Jendrossek
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Johann Matschke
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
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Increased ROS-Dependent Fission of Mitochondria Causes Abnormal Morphology of the Cell Powerhouses in a Murine Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:6924251. [PMID: 34691359 PMCID: PMC8531774 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6924251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease in humans and remains to have a fatal prognosis. Recent studies in animal models and human ALS patients indicate that increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the pathogenesis. Considering previous studies revealing the influence of ROS on mitochondrial physiology, our attention was focused on mitochondria in the murine ALS model, wobbler mouse. The aim of this study was to investigate morphological differences between wild-type and wobbler mitochondria with aid of superresolution structured illumination fluorescence microscopy, TEM, and TEM tomography. To get an insight into mitochondrial dynamics, expression studies of corresponding proteins were performed. Here, we found significantly smaller and degenerated mitochondria in wobbler motor neurons at a stable stage of the disease. Our data suggest a ROS-regulated, Ox-CaMKII-dependent Drp1 activation leading to disrupted fission-fusion balance, resulting in fragmented mitochondria. These changes are associated with numerous impairments, resulting in an overall self-reinforcing decline of motor neurons. In summary, our study provides common pathomechanisms with other ALS models and human ALS cases confirming mitochondria and related dysfunctions as a therapeutic target for the treatment of ALS.
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Sele M, Wernitznig S, Lipovšek S, Radulović S, Haybaeck J, Birkl-Toeglhofer AM, Wodlej C, Kleinegger F, Sygulla S, Leoni M, Ropele S, Leitinger G. Optimization of ultrastructural preservation of human brain for transmission electron microscopy after long post-mortem intervals. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:144. [PMID: 31481118 PMCID: PMC6724377 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0794-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Electron microscopy (EM) provides the necessary resolution to visualize the finer structures of nervous tissue morphology, which is important to understand healthy and pathological conditions in the brain. However, for the interpretation of the micrographs the tissue preservation is crucial. The quality of the tissue structure is mostly influenced by the post mortem interval (PMI), the time of death until the preservation of the tissue. Therefore, the aim of this study was to optimize the preparation-procedure for the human frontal lobe to preserve the ultrastructure as well as possible despite the long PMIs. Combining chemical pre- and post-fixation with cryo-fixation and cryo-substitution ("hybrid freezing"), it was possible to improve the preservation of the neuronal profiles of human brain samples compared to the "standard" epoxy resin embedding method. In conclusion short PMIs are generally desirable but up to a PMI of 16 h the ultrastructure can be preserved on an acceptable level with a high contrast using the "hybrid freezing" protocol described here.
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Glausier JR, Konanur A, Lewis DA. Factors Affecting Ultrastructural Quality in the Prefrontal Cortex of the Postmortem Human Brain. J Histochem Cytochem 2019; 67:185-202. [PMID: 30562121 PMCID: PMC6393839 DOI: 10.1369/0022155418819481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Electron microscopy (EM) studies of the postmortem human brain provide a level of resolution essential for understanding brain function in both normal and disease states. However, processes associated with death can impair the cellular and organelle ultrastructural preservation required for quantitative EM studies. Although postmortem interval (PMI), the time between death and preservation of tissue, is thought to be the most influential factor of ultrastructural quality, numerous other factors may also influence tissue preservation. The goal of the present study was to assess the effects of pre- and postmortem factors on multiple components of ultrastructure in the postmortem human prefrontal cortex. Tissue samples from 30 subjects were processed using standard EM histochemistry. The primary dependent measure was number of identifiable neuronal profiles, and secondary measures included presence and/or integrity of synapses, mitochondria, and myelinated axonal fibers. Number of identifiable neuronal profiles was most strongly affected by the interaction of PMI and pH, such that short PMIs and neutral pH values predicted the best preservation. Secondary measures were largely unaffected by pre- and postmortem factors. Together, these data indicate that distinct components of the neuropil are differentially affected by PMI and pH in postmortem human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anisha Konanur
- The Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
| | - David A. Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh
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Kuehn S, Meißner W, Grotegut P, Theiss C, Dick HB, Joachim SC. Intravitreal S100B Injection Leads to Progressive Glaucoma Like Damage in Retina and Optic Nerve. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:312. [PMID: 30319357 PMCID: PMC6169322 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The glial protein S100B, which belongs to a calcium binding protein family, is up-regulated in neurological diseases, like multiple sclerosis or glaucoma. In previous studies, S100B immunization led to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss in an experimental autoimmune glaucoma (EAG) model. Now, the direct degenerative impact of S100B on the retina and optic nerve was evaluated. Therefore, 2 μl of S100B was intravitreally injected in two concentrations (0.2 and 0.5 μg/μl). At day 3, 14 and 21, retinal neurons, such as RGCs, amacrine and bipolar cells, as well as apoptotic mechanisms were analyzed. Furthermore, neurofilaments, myelin fibers and axons of optic nerves were evaluated. In addition, retinal function and immunoglobulin G (IgG) level in the serum were measured. At day 3, RGCs were unaffected in the S100B groups, when compared to the PBS group. Later, at days 14 and 21, the RGC number as well as the β-III tubulin protein level was reduced in the S100B groups. Only at day 14, active apoptotic mechanisms were noted. The number of amacrine cells was first affected at day 21, while the bipolar cell amount remained comparable to the PBS group. Also, the optic nerve neurofilament structure was damaged from day 3 on. At day 14, numerous swollen axons were observed. The intraocular injection of S100B is a new model for a glaucoma like degeneration. Although the application site was the eye, the optic nerve degenerated first, already at day 3. From day 14 on, retinal damage and loss of function was noted. The RGCs in the middle part of the retina were first affected. At day 21, the damage expanded and RGCs had degenerated in all areas of the retina as well as amacrine cells. Furthermore, elevated IgG levels in the serum were measured at day 21, which could be a sign of a late and S100B independet immune response. In summary, S100B had a direct destroying impact on the axons of the optic nerve. The damage of the retinal cell bodies seems to be a consequence of this axon loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Kuehn
- Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Wilhelm Meißner
- Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Pia Grotegut
- Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Carsten Theiss
- Department of Cytology, Institute of Anatomy, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - H Burkhard Dick
- Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Stephanie C Joachim
- Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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Krause M, Theiss C, Brüne M. Ultrastructural Alterations of Von Economo Neurons in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex in Schizophrenia. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2017; 300:2017-2024. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.23635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Krause
- Department of Cytology, Institute of Anatomy; Ruhr-University Bochum; Bochum 44780 Germany
| | - Carsten Theiss
- Department of Cytology, Institute of Anatomy; Ruhr-University Bochum; Bochum 44780 Germany
| | - Martin Brüne
- Division of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry and Psychiatric Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital Bochum; Ruhr-University Bochum; Bochum 44791 Germany
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