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Mavrovounis G, Skouroliakou A, Kalatzis I, Stranjalis G, Kalamatianos T. Over 30 Years of DiI Use for Human Neuroanatomical Tract Tracing: A Scoping Review. Biomolecules 2024; 14:536. [PMID: 38785943 PMCID: PMC11117484 DOI: 10.3390/biom14050536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we conducted a scoping review to provide an overview of the existing literature on the carbocyanine dye DiI, in human neuroanatomical tract tracing. The PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched. We identified 61 studies published during the last three decades. While studies incorporated specimens across human life from the embryonic stage onwards, the majority of studies focused on adult human tissue. Studies that utilized peripheral nervous system (PNS) tissue were a minority, with the majority of studies focusing on the central nervous system (CNS). The most common topic of interest in previous tract tracing investigations was the connectivity of the visual pathway. DiI crystals were more commonly applied. Nevertheless, several studies utilized DiI in a paste or dissolved form. The maximum tracing distance and tracing speed achieved was, respectively, 70 mm and 1 mm/h. We identified studies that focused on optimizing tracing efficacy by varying parameters such as fixation, incubation temperature, dye re-application, or the application of electric fields. Additional studies aimed at broadening the scope of DiI use by assessing the utility of archival tissue and compatibility of tissue clearing in DiI applications. A combination of DiI tracing and immunohistochemistry in double-labeling studies have been shown to provide the means for assessing connectivity of phenotypically defined human CNS and PNS neuronal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Mavrovounis
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evangelismos Hospital, 10676 Athens, Greece; (G.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Aikaterini Skouroliakou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece; (A.S.); (I.K.)
| | - Ioannis Kalatzis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece; (A.S.); (I.K.)
| | - George Stranjalis
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evangelismos Hospital, 10676 Athens, Greece; (G.M.); (G.S.)
- Hellenic Centre for Neurosurgery Research “Professor Petros S. Kokkalis”, 10675 Athens, Greece
| | - Theodosis Kalamatianos
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evangelismos Hospital, 10676 Athens, Greece; (G.M.); (G.S.)
- Hellenic Centre for Neurosurgery Research “Professor Petros S. Kokkalis”, 10675 Athens, Greece
- Clinical and Experimental Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Neurosurgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10675 Athens, Greece
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Fries M, Brown TW, Jolicoeur C, Boulan B, Boudreau-Pinsonneault C, Javed A, Abram P, Cayouette M. Pou3f1 orchestrates a gene regulatory network controlling contralateral retinogeniculate projections. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112985. [PMID: 37590135 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The balance of contralateral and ipsilateral retinogeniculate projections is critical for binocular vision, but the transcriptional programs regulating this process remain ill defined. Here we show that the Pou class homeobox protein POU3F1 is expressed in nascent mouse contralateral retinal ganglion cells (cRGCs) but not ipsilateral RGCs (iRGCs). Upon Pou3f1 inactivation, the proportion of cRGCs is reduced in favor of iRGCs, leading to abnormal projection ratios at the optic chiasm. Conversely, misexpression of Pou3f1 in progenitors increases the production of cRGCs. Using CUT&RUN and RNA sequencing in gain- and loss-of-function assays, we demonstrate that POU3F1 regulates expression of several key members of the cRGC gene regulatory network. Finally, we report that POU3F1 is sufficient to induce RGC-like cell production, even in late-stage retinal progenitors of Atoh7 knockout mice. This work uncovers POU3F1 as a regulator of the cRGC transcriptional program, opening possibilities for optic nerve regenerative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Fries
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada; Molecular Biology Program, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Thomas W Brown
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Christine Jolicoeur
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Benoit Boulan
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Camille Boudreau-Pinsonneault
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Awais Javed
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada; Molecular Biology Program, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Pénélope Abram
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Michel Cayouette
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada; Molecular Biology Program, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada; Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada.
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Optimized single-step optical clearing solution for 3D volume imaging of biological structures. Commun Biol 2022; 5:431. [PMID: 35534680 PMCID: PMC9085829 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03388-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Various optical clearing approaches have been introduced to meet the growing demand for 3D volume imaging of biological structures. Each has its own strengths but still suffers from low transparency, long incubation time, processing complexity, tissue deformation, or fluorescence quenching, and a single solution that best satisfies all aspects has yet been developed. Here, we develop OptiMuS, an optimized single-step solution that overcomes the shortcomings of the existing aqueous-based clearing methods and that provides the best performance in terms of transparency, clearing rate, and size retention. OptiMuS achieves rapid and high transparency of brain tissues and other intact organs while preserving the size and fluorescent signal of the tissues. Moreover, OptiMuS is compatible with the use of lipophilic dyes, revealing DiI-labeled vascular structures of the whole brain, kidney, spleen, and intestine, and is also applied to 3D quantitative and comparative analysis of DiI-labeled vascular structures of glomeruli turfs in normal and diseased kidneys. Together, OptiMuS provides a single-step solution for simple, fast, and versatile optical clearing method to obtain high tissue transparency with minimum structural changes and is widely applicable for 3D imaging of various whole biological structures. OptiMuS is an optical clearing method which preserves endogenous fluorescence and sample sizes and can be used to clear thick tissues, visualize neural networks and vascular structures and diagnose pathological status of kidneys, as a potential application.
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Öztürk NC, Koç T. Testing the suitability of neuroanatomical tracing method in human fetuses with long years of postmortem delay. Surg Radiol Anat 2022; 44:769-783. [PMID: 35476150 DOI: 10.1007/s00276-022-02942-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Human tissues in gross anatomical archives with long years of postmortem delays are considered suboptimal relative to recently fixed materials for neuroanatomical tracing studies, yet efficacy of neuroanatomical tracing on archival fetal tissues largely unexplored. We aimed to explore the suitability of human archival tissue in neuroanatomical tracing with lipophilic carbocyanine dyes. METHODS We used crystal and paste forms 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) and analogues for neuroanatomical tracing on different peripheral nerves in 15-18-year archival old formalin-fixed human fetuses. We employed bright-field, fluorescent and confocal microscopy to visualize the peripheric nerve traces, spinal cord and vibratome cut sections. Fluorescent signal of the dyes on epineurium and on axonal membranes were visualized under fluorescence and confocal microscopes and performance of the dye diffusion was assessed by semi-quantitative image analysis. RESULTS We followed up seven lipophilic dye embeddings in 16-28 gestational week-old human fetuses (n = 4) with 16.75 ± 1.29-year postmortem delay. The mean distance of distally moved carbocyanine dye diffusion measured on epineurium was detected as 25.11 ± 9.1 mm. CONCLUSION Based on the results of 13 distinct studies performed neuroanatomical tracing with human tissues in the immediate postmortem hours or days, average traced distance was 16.32 ± 15.95 mm, and a 95% confidence interval lower limit of 4.9 mm and upper limit of 27.73 mm. The tracing distances we observed in our current study fall entirely within this confidence interval. To our awareness, this is the first report to demonstrate that specific neuroanatomical tracing presented in axonal membrane level on peripheral nerves is possible on gross anatomical repositories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nail Can Öztürk
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey. .,Biotechnology Research Center, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
| | - Turan Koç
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey
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Rusch H, Brammerloh M, Stieler J, Sonntag M, Mohammadi S, Weiskopf N, Arendt T, Kirilina E, Morawski M. Finding the best clearing approach - Towards 3D wide-scale multimodal imaging of aged human brain tissue. Neuroimage 2021; 247:118832. [PMID: 34929383 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The accessibility of new wide-scale multimodal imaging techniques led to numerous clearing techniques emerging over the last decade. However, clearing mesoscopic-sized blocks of aged human brain tissue remains an extremely challenging task. Homogenizing refractive indices and reducing light absorption and scattering are the foundation of tissue clearing. Due to its dense and highly myelinated nature, especially in white matter, the human brain poses particular challenges to clearing techniques. Here, we present a comparative study of seven tissue clearing approaches and their impact on aged human brain tissue blocks (> 5 mm). The goal was to identify the most practical and efficient method in regards to macroscopic transparency, brief clearing time, compatibility with immunohistochemical processing and wide-scale multimodal microscopic imaging. We successfully cleared 26 × 26 × 5 mm3-sized human brain samples with two hydrophilic and two hydrophobic clearing techniques. Optical properties as well as light and antibody penetration depths highly vary between these methods. In addition to finding the best clearing approach, we compared three microscopic imaging setups (the Zeiss Laser Scanning Microscope (LSM) 880 , the Miltenyi Biotec Ultramicroscope ll (UM ll) and the 3i Marianas LightSheet microscope) regarding optimal imaging of large-scale tissue samples. We demonstrate that combining the CLARITY technique (Clear Lipid-exchanged Acrylamide-hybridized Rigid Imaging compatible Tissue hYdrogel) with the Zeiss LSM 880 and combining the iDISCO technique (immunolabeling-enabled three-dimensional imaging of solvent-cleared organs) with the Miltenyi Biotec UM ll are the most practical and efficient approaches to sufficiently clear aged human brain tissue and generate 3D microscopic images. Our results point out challenges that arise from seven clearing and three imaging techniques applied to non-standardized tissue samples such as aged human brain tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henriette Rusch
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 19, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Malte Brammerloh
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Science, Stephanstraße 1a, Leipzig 04103, Germany; Felix Bloch Institute for Solid State Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Leipzig, Linnéstraße 5, Leipzig 04103, Germany; International Max Planck Research School on Neuroscience of Communication: Function, Structure, and Plasticity, Stephanstraße 1a, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Jens Stieler
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 19, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Mandy Sonntag
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 19, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Siawoosh Mohammadi
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Science, Stephanstraße 1a, Leipzig 04103, Germany; Institute of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, Hamburg 20246, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Weiskopf
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Science, Stephanstraße 1a, Leipzig 04103, Germany; Felix Bloch Institute for Solid State Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Leipzig, Linnéstraße 5, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Thomas Arendt
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 19, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Evgeniya Kirilina
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Science, Stephanstraße 1a, Leipzig 04103, Germany; Center for Cognitive Neuroscience Berlin, Free University Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Markus Morawski
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 19, Leipzig 04103, Germany; Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Science, Stephanstraße 1a, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
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Abstract
Advanced optical methods combined with various probes pave the way toward molecular imaging within living cells. However, major challenges are associated with the need to enhance the imaging resolution even further to the subcellular level for the imaging of larger tissues, as well as for in vivo studies. High scattering and absorption of opaque tissues limit the penetration of light into deep tissues and thus the optical imaging depth. Tissue optical clearing technique provides an innovative way to perform deep-tissue imaging. Recently, various optical clearing methods have been developed, which provide tissue clearing based on similar physical principles via different chemical approaches. Here, we introduce the mechanisms of the current clearing methods from fundamental physical and chemical perspectives, including the main physical principle, refractive index matching via various chemical approaches, such as dissociation of collagen, delipidation, decalcification, dehydration, and hyperhydration, to reduce scattering, as well as decolorization to reduce absorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Yu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
- MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Jingtan Zhu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
- MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Dongyu Li
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
- MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Dan Zhu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
- MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
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Liang X, Luo H. Optical Tissue Clearing: Illuminating Brain Function and Dysfunction. Theranostics 2021; 11:3035-3051. [PMID: 33537072 PMCID: PMC7847687 DOI: 10.7150/thno.53979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue optical clearing technology has been developing rapidly in the past decade due to advances in microscopy equipment and various labeling techniques. Consistent modification of primary methods for optical tissue transparency has allowed observation of the whole mouse body at single-cell resolution or thick tissue slices at the nanoscale level, with the final aim to make intact primate and human brains or thick human brain tissues optically transparent. Optical clearance combined with flexible large-volume tissue labeling technology can not only preserve the anatomical structure but also visualize multiple molecular information from intact samples in situ. It also provides a new strategy for studying complex tissues, which is of great significance for deciphering the functional structure of healthy brains and the mechanisms of neurological pathologies. In this review, we briefly introduce the existing optical clearing technology and discuss its application in deciphering connection and structure, brain development, and brain diseases. Besides, we discuss the standard computational analysis tools for large-scale imaging dataset processing and information extraction. In general, we hope that this review will provide a valuable reference for researchers who intend to use optical clearing technology in studying the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohan Liang
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Haiming Luo
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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