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Behroozi M, Graïc JM, Gerussi T. Beyond the surface: how ex-vivo diffusion-weighted imaging reveals large animal brain microstructure and connectivity. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1411982. [PMID: 38988768 PMCID: PMC11233460 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1411982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Diffusion-weighted Imaging (DWI) is an effective and state-of-the-art neuroimaging method that non-invasively reveals the microstructure and connectivity of tissues. Recently, novel applications of the DWI technique in studying large brains through ex-vivo imaging enabled researchers to gain insights into the complex neural architecture in different species such as those of Perissodactyla (e.g., horses and rhinos), Artiodactyla (e.g., bovids, swines, and cetaceans), and Carnivora (e.g., felids, canids, and pinnipeds). Classical in-vivo tract-tracing methods are usually considered unsuitable for ethical and practical reasons, in large animals or protected species. Ex-vivo DWI-based tractography offers the chance to examine the microstructure and connectivity of formalin-fixed tissues with scan times and precision that is not feasible in-vivo. This paper explores DWI's application to ex-vivo brains of large animals, highlighting the unique insights it offers into the structure of sometimes phylogenetically different neural networks, the connectivity of white matter tracts, and comparative evolutionary adaptations. Here, we also summarize the challenges, concerns, and perspectives of ex-vivo DWI that will shape the future of the field in large brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Behroozi
- Department of Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jean-Marie Graïc
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Tommaso Gerussi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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2
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Bay S, Digwal CS, Rodilla Martín AM, Sharma S, Stanisavljevic A, Rodina A, Attaran A, Roychowdhury T, Parikh K, Toth E, Panchal P, Rosiek E, Pasala C, Arancio O, Fraser PE, Alldred MJ, Prado MAM, Ginsberg SD, Chiosis G. Synthesis and Characterization of Click Chemical Probes for Single-Cell Resolution Detection of Epichaperomes in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1252. [PMID: 38927459 PMCID: PMC11201208 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), represent debilitating conditions with complex, poorly understood pathologies. Epichaperomes, pathologic protein assemblies nucleated on key chaperones, have emerged as critical players in the molecular dysfunction underlying these disorders. In this study, we introduce the synthesis and characterization of clickable epichaperome probes, PU-TCO, positive control, and PU-NTCO, negative control. Through comprehensive in vitro assays and cell-based investigations, we establish the specificity of the PU-TCO probe for epichaperomes. Furthermore, we demonstrate the efficacy of PU-TCO in detecting epichaperomes in brain tissue with a cellular resolution, underscoring its potential as a valuable tool for dissecting single-cell responses in neurodegenerative diseases. This clickable probe is therefore poised to address a critical need in the field, offering unprecedented precision and versatility in studying epichaperomes and opening avenues for novel insights into their role in disease pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadik Bay
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (S.B.); (C.S.D.); (A.M.R.M.); (S.S.); (A.R.); (T.R.); (K.P.); (E.T.); (P.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Chander S. Digwal
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (S.B.); (C.S.D.); (A.M.R.M.); (S.S.); (A.R.); (T.R.); (K.P.); (E.T.); (P.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Ananda M. Rodilla Martín
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (S.B.); (C.S.D.); (A.M.R.M.); (S.S.); (A.R.); (T.R.); (K.P.); (E.T.); (P.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Sahil Sharma
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (S.B.); (C.S.D.); (A.M.R.M.); (S.S.); (A.R.); (T.R.); (K.P.); (E.T.); (P.P.); (C.P.)
| | | | - Anna Rodina
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (S.B.); (C.S.D.); (A.M.R.M.); (S.S.); (A.R.); (T.R.); (K.P.); (E.T.); (P.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Anoosha Attaran
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine, Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; (A.A.); (M.A.M.P.)
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine, Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Tanaya Roychowdhury
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (S.B.); (C.S.D.); (A.M.R.M.); (S.S.); (A.R.); (T.R.); (K.P.); (E.T.); (P.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Kamya Parikh
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (S.B.); (C.S.D.); (A.M.R.M.); (S.S.); (A.R.); (T.R.); (K.P.); (E.T.); (P.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Eugene Toth
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (S.B.); (C.S.D.); (A.M.R.M.); (S.S.); (A.R.); (T.R.); (K.P.); (E.T.); (P.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Palak Panchal
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (S.B.); (C.S.D.); (A.M.R.M.); (S.S.); (A.R.); (T.R.); (K.P.); (E.T.); (P.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Eric Rosiek
- Molecular Cytology Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Chiranjeevi Pasala
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (S.B.); (C.S.D.); (A.M.R.M.); (S.S.); (A.R.); (T.R.); (K.P.); (E.T.); (P.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Ottavio Arancio
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, New York, NY 10032, USA;
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Paul E. Fraser
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5R 0A3, Canada;
| | - Melissa J. Alldred
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA; (A.S.); (M.J.A.)
- Departments of Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Marco A. M. Prado
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine, Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; (A.A.); (M.A.M.P.)
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine, Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Stephen D. Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA; (A.S.); (M.J.A.)
- Departments of Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Neuroscience & Physiology & the NYU Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Gabriela Chiosis
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (S.B.); (C.S.D.); (A.M.R.M.); (S.S.); (A.R.); (T.R.); (K.P.); (E.T.); (P.P.); (C.P.)
- Department of Medicine, Division of Solid Tumors, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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3
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Casey C, Fullard JF, Sleator RD. Unravelling the genetic basis of Schizophrenia. Gene 2024; 902:148198. [PMID: 38266791 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148198] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Neuronal development is a highly regulated mechanism that is central to organismal function in animals. In humans, disruptions to this process can lead to a range of neurodevelopmental phenotypes, including Schizophrenia (SCZ). SCZ has a significant genetic component, whereby an individual with an SCZ affected family member is eight times more likely to develop the disease than someone with no family history of SCZ. By examining a combination of genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic datasets, large-scale 'omics' studies aim to delineate the relationship between genetic variation and abnormal cellular activity in the SCZ brain. Herein, we provide a brief overview of some of the key omics methods currently being used in SCZ research, including RNA-seq, the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (3C) approaches (e.g., Hi-C), as well as single-cell/nuclei iterations of these methods. We also discuss how these techniques are being employed to further our understanding of the genetic basis of SCZ, and to identify associated molecular pathways, biomarkers, and candidate drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Casey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland; Center for Disease Neurogenomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - John F Fullard
- Center for Disease Neurogenomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Roy D Sleator
- Department of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland.
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4
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Hade AC, Philips MA, Promet L, Jagomäe T, Hanumantharaju A, Salumäe L, Reimann E, Plaas M, Vasar E, Väli M. A cost-effective and efficient ex vivo, ex situ human whole brain perfusion protocol for immunohistochemistry. J Neurosci Methods 2024; 404:110059. [PMID: 38218387 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2024.110059] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemical fixation of the brain can be executed through either the immersion method or the perfusion method. Perfusion fixation allows for better preservation of the brain tissue's ultrastructure, as it provides rapid and uniform delivery of the fixative to the tissue. Still, not all facilities have the expertise to perform perfusion fixation, with initial high cost and complexity of perfusion systems as the main factors limiting its widespread usage. NEW METHOD Here we present our low-cost approach of whole brain ex situ perfusion fixation to overcome the aforementioned limitations. Our self-made perfusion system, constructed utilising commercially accessible and affordable medical resources alongside laboratory and everyday items, demonstrates the capability to generate superior histological stainings of brain tissue. The perfused tissue can be stored prior to proceeding with IHC for at least one year. RESULTS Our method yielded high-quality results in histological stainings using both free-floating cryosections and paraffin-embedded tissue sections. The system is fully reusable and complies with the principles of sustainable management. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS Our whole brain perfusion system has been assembled from simple components and is able to achieve a linear flow with a pressure of 70 mmHg corresponding to the perfusion pressure of the brain. CONCLUSIONS Our ex situ method can be especially useful in research settings where expensive perfusion systems are not affordable or in any field with high time pressure, making it suitable for the field of forensic medicine or pathology in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas-Christian Hade
- Department of Pathological Anatomy and Forensic Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; Estonian Forensic Science Institute, Tervise 20, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Mari-Anne Philips
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia; Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Liisi Promet
- International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Toomas Jagomäe
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia; Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Arpana Hanumantharaju
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia; Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Liis Salumäe
- Pathology Service, Tartu University Hospital; Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ene Reimann
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mario Plaas
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia; Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Eero Vasar
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia; Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Marika Väli
- Department of Pathological Anatomy and Forensic Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; Estonian Forensic Science Institute, Tervise 20, Tallinn, Estonia
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5
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Sarkar S, Roy D, Chatterjee B, Ghosh R. Clinical advances in analytical profiling of signature lipids: implications for severe non-communicable and neurodegenerative diseases. Metabolomics 2024; 20:37. [PMID: 38459207 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-024-02100-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lipids play key roles in numerous biological processes, including energy storage, cell membrane structure, signaling, immune responses, and homeostasis, making lipidomics a vital branch of metabolomics that analyzes and characterizes a wide range of lipid classes. Addressing the complex etiology, age-related risk, progression, inflammation, and research overlap in conditions like Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Cancer poses significant challenges in the quest for effective therapeutic targets, improved diagnostic markers, and advanced treatments. Mass spectrometry is an indispensable tool in clinical lipidomics, delivering quantitative and structural lipid data, and its integration with technologies like Liquid Chromatography (LC), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and few emerging Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization- Imaging Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) along with its incorporation into Tissue Microarray (TMA) represents current advances. These innovations enhance lipidomics assessment, bolster accuracy, and offer insights into lipid subcellular localization, dynamics, and functional roles in disease contexts. AIM OF THE REVIEW The review article summarizes recent advancements in lipidomic methodologies from 2019 to 2023 for diagnosing major neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, serious non-communicable cardiovascular diseases and cancer, emphasizing the role of lipid level variations, and highlighting the potential of lipidomics data integration with genomics and proteomics to improve disease understanding and innovative prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW Clinical lipidomic studies are a promising approach to track and analyze lipid profiles, revealing their crucial roles in various diseases. This lipid-focused research provides insights into disease mechanisms, biomarker identification, and potential therapeutic targets, advancing our understanding and management of conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Cardiovascular Diseases, and specific cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sutanu Sarkar
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology (AIBNK), Amity University, Rajarhat, Newtown Action Area 2, Kolkata, 700135, West Bengal, India
| | - Deotima Roy
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology (AIBNK), Amity University, Rajarhat, Newtown Action Area 2, Kolkata, 700135, West Bengal, India
| | - Bhaskar Chatterjee
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology (AIBNK), Amity University, Rajarhat, Newtown Action Area 2, Kolkata, 700135, West Bengal, India
| | - Rajgourab Ghosh
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology (AIBNK), Amity University, Rajarhat, Newtown Action Area 2, Kolkata, 700135, West Bengal, India.
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González-Arnay E, Pérez-Santos I, Jiménez-Sánchez L, Cid E, Gal B, de la Prida LM, Cavada C. Immunohistochemical field parcellation of the human hippocampus along its antero-posterior axis. Brain Struct Funct 2024; 229:359-385. [PMID: 38180568 PMCID: PMC10917878 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02725-9] [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] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The primate hippocampus includes the dentate gyrus, cornu ammonis (CA), and subiculum. CA is subdivided into four fields (CA1-CA3, plus CA3h/hilus of the dentate gyrus) with specific pyramidal cell morphology and connections. Work in non-human mammals has shown that hippocampal connectivity is precisely patterned both in the laminar and longitudinal axes. One of the main handicaps in the study of neuropathological semiology in the human hippocampus is the lack of clear laminar and longitudinal borders. The aim of this study was to explore a histochemical segmentation of the adult human hippocampus, integrating field (medio-lateral), laminar, and anteroposterior longitudinal patterning. We provide criteria for head-body-tail field and subfield parcellation of the human hippocampus based on immunodetection of Rabphilin3a (Rph3a), Purkinje-cell protein 4 (PCP4), Chromogranin A and Regulation of G protein signaling-14 (RGS-14). Notably, Rph3a and PCP4 allow to identify the border between CA3 and CA2, while Chromogranin A and RGS-14 give specific staining of CA2. We also provide novel histological data about the composition of human-specific regions of the anterior and posterior hippocampus. The data are given with stereotaxic coordinates along the longitudinal axis. This study provides novel insights for a detailed region-specific parcellation of the human hippocampus useful for human brain imaging and neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio González-Arnay
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Basic Medical Science-Division of Human Anatomy, Universidad de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Isabel Pérez-Santos
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorena Jiménez-Sánchez
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Elena Cid
- Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Gal
- Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Carmen Cavada
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
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McKenzie AT, Nnadi O, Slagell KD, Thorn EL, Farrell K, Crary JF. Fluid preservation in brain banking: a review. FREE NEUROPATHOLOGY 2024; 5:5-10. [PMID: 38690035 PMCID: PMC11058410 DOI: 10.17879/freeneuropathology-2024-5373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Fluid preservation is nearly universally used in brain banking to store fixed tissue specimens for future research applications. However, the effects of long-term immersion on neural circuitry and biomolecules are not well characterized. As a result, there is a need to synthesize studies investigating fluid preservation of brain tissue. We searched PubMed and other databases to identify studies measuring the effects of fluid preservation in nervous system tissue. We categorized studies based on the fluid preservative used: formaldehyde solutions, buffer solutions, alcohol solutions, storage after tissue clearing, and cryoprotectant solutions. We identified 91 studies containing 197 independent observations of the effects of long-term storage on cellular morphology. Most studies did not report any significant alterations due to long-term storage. When present, the most frequent alteration was decreased antigenicity, commonly attributed to progressive crosslinking by aldehydes that renders biomolecules increasingly inaccessible over time. To build a mechanistic understanding, we discuss biochemical aspects of long-term fluid preservation. A subset of lipids appears to be chemical altered or extracted over time due to incomplete retention in the crosslinked gel. Alternative storage fluids mitigate the problem of antigen masking but have not been extensively characterized and may have other downsides. We also compare fluid preservation to cryopreservation, paraffin embedding, and resin embedding. Overall, existing evidence suggests that fluid preservation provides maintenance of neural architecture for decades, including precise structural details. However, to avoid the well-established problem of overfixation caused by storage in high concentration formaldehyde solutions, fluid preservation procedures can use an initial fixation step followed by an alternative long-term storage fluid. Further research is warranted on optimizing protocols and characterizing the generalizability of the storage artifacts that have been identified.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Oge Nnadi
- Brain Preservation Foundation, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
| | - Kat D. Slagell
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Emma L. Thorn
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kurt Farrell
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - John F. Crary
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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8
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Hara A, Taniguchi T, Kanayama T, Tomita H. Immunohistochemistry of Brain Tissues. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2794:21-32. [PMID: 38630217 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3810-1_3] [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] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the basis of histological or pathological analysis and is widely used to enable the detection and characterization of proteins in various organ tissues, including brain tissues. IHC is commonly performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues because of their easy storage and versatility. IHC is a key method for providing more accurate analysis of localization and function of neurons, neuroendocrine cells, and neural stem cells in the brain and other nervous systems. The related cells such as glial cells and neurovascular units have also been analyzed by IHC. Visualization of antibody-antigen interactions can be performed primarily in one of the following ways: chromogenically stained IHC and fluorescently stained IHC. In chromogenically stained IHC, an antibody is chemically conjugated to an enzyme, such as peroxidase, that can be reacted with a suitable substrate to give a colored product. In fluorescently stained IHC, the antibodies are finally tagged with fluorescent chemicals such as fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) or rhodamine. Here, we describe the standard methods of IHC applied to brain slice sections. Furthermore, an automated immunostainer is presented as another option for standardized immunohistochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Hara
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
| | - Toshiaki Taniguchi
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Kanayama
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Tomita
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
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James RI, Verma R, Johnson LR, Manesh A, Jayakumar J, Sen M, Joseph J, Kumarasami R, Mitra PP, Sivaprakasam M, Varghese GM. A Standardized Protocol for the Safe Retrieval of Infectious Postmortem Human Brain for Studying Whole-Brain Pathology. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2023; 44:303-310. [PMID: 37490584 PMCID: PMC10662599 DOI: 10.1097/paf.0000000000000871] [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] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT We describe a safe and standardized perfusion protocol for studying brain pathology in high-risk autopsies using a custom-designed low-cost infection containment chamber and high-resolution histology. The output quality was studied using the histological data from the whole cerebellum and brain stem processed using a high-resolution cryohistology pipeline at 0.5 μm per pixel, in-plane resolution with serial sections at 20-μm thickness. To understand the pathophysiology of highly infectious diseases, it is necessary to have a safe and cost-effective method of performing high-risk autopsies and a standardized perfusion protocol for preparing high-quality tissues. Using the low-cost infection containment chamber, we detail the cranial autopsy protocol and ex situ perfusion-fixation of 4 highly infectious adult human brains. The digitized high-resolution histology images of the Nissl-stained series reveal that most of the sections were free of processing artifacts, such as fixation damage, freezing artifacts, and osmotic shock, at the macrocellular and microcellular level. The quality of our protocol was also tested with the highly sensitive immunohistochemistry staining for specific protein markers. Our protocol provides a safe and effective method in high-risk autopsies that allows for the evaluation of pathogen-host interaction, the underlying pathophysiology, and the extent of the infection across the whole brain at microscopic resolutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjit Immanuel James
- From the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Christian Medical College, Vellore
| | - Richa Verma
- Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai
| | - Latif Rajesh Johnson
- From the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Christian Medical College, Vellore
| | - Abi Manesh
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Christian Medical College, Vellore
| | - Jaikishan Jayakumar
- Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai
- Center for Computational Brain Research
| | - Mousumi Sen
- From the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Christian Medical College, Vellore
| | - Jayaraj Joseph
- Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai
- Department of Electrical Engineering
- Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Ramdayalan Kumarasami
- Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai
- Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Partha P. Mitra
- Center for Computational Brain Research
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
| | - Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam
- Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai
- Department of Electrical Engineering
- Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
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10
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Yoo SS, Kim E, Kowsari K, Van Reet J, Kim HC, Yoon K. Non-invasive enhancement of intracortical solute clearance using transcranial focused ultrasound. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12339. [PMID: 37524783 PMCID: PMC10390479 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39640-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Transport of interstitial fluid and solutes plays a critical role in clearing metabolic waste from the brain. Transcranial application of focused ultrasound (FUS) has been shown to promote localized cerebrospinal fluid solute uptake into the brain parenchyma; however, its effects on the transport and clearance of interstitial solutes remain unknown. We demonstrate that pulsed application of low-intensity FUS to the rat brain enhances the transport of intracortically injected fluorescent tracers (ovalbumin and high molecular-weight dextran), yielding greater parenchymal tracer volume distribution compared to the unsonicated control group (ovalbumin by 40.1% and dextran by 34.6%). Furthermore, FUS promoted the drainage of injected interstitial ovalbumin to both superficial and deep cervical lymph nodes (cLNs) ipsilateral to sonication, with 78.3% higher drainage observed in the superficial cLNs compared to the non-sonicated hemisphere. The application of FUS increased the level of solute transport visible from the dorsal brain surface, with ~ 43% greater area and ~ 19% higher fluorescence intensity than the unsonicated group, especially in the pial surface ipsilateral to sonication. The sonication did not elicit tissue-level neuronal excitation, measured by an electroencephalogram, nor did it alter the molecular weight of the tracers. These findings suggest that nonthermal transcranial FUS can enhance advective transport of interstitial solutes and their subsequent removal in a completely non-invasive fashion, offering its potential non-pharmacological utility in facilitating clearance of waste from the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Schik Yoo
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, MA, 02115, Boston, USA.
| | - Evgenii Kim
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, MA, 02115, Boston, USA
| | - Kavin Kowsari
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, MA, 02115, Boston, USA
| | - Jared Van Reet
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, MA, 02115, Boston, USA
| | - Hyun-Chul Kim
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, MA, 02115, Boston, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungho Yoon
- School of Computational Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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11
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Nardi L, Schmeisser MJ, Schumann S. Fixation and staining methods for macroscopical investigation of the brain. Front Neuroanat 2023; 17:1200196. [PMID: 37426902 PMCID: PMC10323195 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2023.1200196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The proper preservation of human brain tissue is an indispensable requirement for post-mortem investigations. Neuroanatomical teaching, neuropathological examination, neurosurgical training, basic and clinical neuroscientific research are some of the possible downstream applications of brain specimens and, although much apart from one another, proper tissue fixation and preservation is a common denominator to all of them. In this review, the most relevant procedures to fixate brain tissue are described. In situ and immersion fixation approaches have been so far the most widespread ways to deliver the fixatives inside the skull. Although most of them rely on the use of formalin, alternative fixative solutions containing lower amounts of this compound mixed with other preservative agents, have been attempted. The combination of fixation and freezing paved the way for fiber dissection, particularly relevant for the neurosurgical practice and clinical neuroscience. Moreover, special techniques have been developed in neuropathology to tackle extraordinary problems, such as the examination of highly infective specimens, as in the case of the Creutzfeldt-Jakob encephalopathy, or fetal brains. Fixation is a fundamental prerequisite for further staining of brain specimens. Although several staining techniques have been developed for the microscopical investigation of the central nervous system, numerous approaches are also available for staining macroscopic brain specimens. They are mostly relevant for neuroanatomical and neuropathological teaching and can be divided in white and gray matter staining techniques. Altogether, brain fixation and staining techniques are rooted in the origins of neuroscience and continue to arouse interest in both preclinical and clinical neuroscientists also nowadays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Nardi
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael J. Schmeisser
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Sven Schumann
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
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12
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Woelfle S, Deshpande D, Feldengut S, Braak H, Del Tredici K, Roselli F, Deisseroth K, Michaelis J, Boeckers TM, Schön M. CLARITY increases sensitivity and specificity of fluorescence immunostaining in long-term archived human brain tissue. BMC Biol 2023; 21:113. [PMID: 37221592 PMCID: PMC10207789 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01582-6] [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] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post mortem human brain tissue is an essential resource to study cell types, connectivity as well as subcellular structures down to the molecular setup of the central nervous system especially with respect to the plethora of brain diseases. A key method is immunostaining with fluorescent dyes, which allows high-resolution imaging in three dimensions of multiple structures simultaneously. Although there are large collections of formalin-fixed brains, research is often limited because several conditions arise that complicate the use of human brain tissue for high-resolution fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS In this study, we developed a clearing approach for immunofluorescence-based analysis of perfusion- and immersion-fixed post mortem human brain tissue, termed human Clear Lipid-exchanged Acrylamide-hybridized Rigid Imaging / Immunostaining / In situ hybridization-compatible Tissue-hYdrogel (hCLARITY). hCLARITY is optimized for specificity by reducing off-target labeling and yields very sensitive stainings in human brain sections allowing for super-resolution microscopy with unprecedented imaging of pre- and postsynaptic compartments. Moreover, hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease were preserved with hCLARITY, and importantly classical 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) or Nissl stainings are compatible with this protocol. hCLARITY is very versatile as demonstrated by the use of more than 30 well performing antibodies and allows for de- and subsequent re-staining of the same tissue section, which is important for multi-labeling approaches, e.g., in super-resolution microscopy. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, hCLARITY enables research of the human brain with high sensitivity and down to sub-diffraction resolution. It therefore has enormous potential for the investigation of local morphological changes, e.g., in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Woelfle
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine Ulm, IGradU, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Dhruva Deshpande
- Institute of Biophysics, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Chemical and Systems Biology Department, Stanford School of Medicine, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Simone Feldengut
- Clinical Neuroanatomy Section/Department of Neurology, Center for Biomedical Research, Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Heiko Braak
- Clinical Neuroanatomy Section/Department of Neurology, Center for Biomedical Research, Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Kelly Del Tredici
- Clinical Neuroanatomy Section/Department of Neurology, Center for Biomedical Research, Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Francesco Roselli
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE, Ulm Site, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Karl Deisseroth
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jens Michaelis
- Institute of Biophysics, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE, Ulm Site, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Michael Schön
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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13
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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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14
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Pérez-Santos I, García-Cabezas MÁ, Cavada C. Mapping the primate thalamus: systematic approach to analyze the distribution of subcortical neuromodulatory afferents. Brain Struct Funct 2023:10.1007/s00429-023-02619-w. [PMID: 36890350 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02619-w] [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: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Neuromodulatory afferents to thalamic nuclei are key for information transmission and thus play critical roles in sensory, motor, and limbic processes. Over the course of the last decades, diverse attempts have been made to map and describe subcortical neuromodulatory afferents to the primate thalamus, including axons using acetylcholine, serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, and histamine. Our group has been actively involved in this endeavor. The published descriptions on neuromodulatory afferents to the primate thalamus have been made in different laboratories and are not fully comparable due to methodological divergences (for example, fixation procedures, planes of cutting, techniques used to detect the afferents, different criteria for identification of thalamic nuclei…). Such variation affects the results obtained. Therefore, systematic methodological and analytical approaches are much needed. The present article proposes reproducible methodological and terminological frameworks for primate thalamic mapping. We suggest the use of standard stereotaxic planes to produce and present maps of the primate thalamus, as well as the use of the Anglo-American school terminology (vs. the German school terminology) for identification of thalamic nuclei. Finally, a public repository of the data collected under agreed-on frameworks would be a useful tool for looking up and comparing data on the structure and connections of primate thalamic nuclei. Important and agreed-on efforts are required to create, manage, and fund a unified and homogeneous resource of data on the primate thalamus. Likewise, a firm commitment of the institutions to preserve experimental brain material is much needed because neuroscience work with non-human primates is becoming increasingly rare, making earlier material still more valuable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Pérez-Santos
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain.,PhD Program in Neuroscience, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel García-Cabezas
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain.,PhD Program in Neuroscience, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-Cajal, Madrid, Spain.,Neural Systems Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carmen Cavada
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain. .,PhD Program in Neuroscience, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
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15
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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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16
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Krassner MM, Kauffman J, Sowa A, Cialowicz K, Walsh S, Farrell K, Crary JF, McKenzie AT. Postmortem changes in brain cell structure: a review. FREE NEUROPATHOLOGY 2023; 4:4-10. [PMID: 37384330 PMCID: PMC10294569 DOI: 10.17879/freeneuropathology-2023-4790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Brain cell structure is a key determinant of neural function that is frequently altered in neurobiological disorders. Following the global loss of blood flow to the brain that initiates the postmortem interval (PMI), cells rapidly become depleted of energy and begin to decompose. To ensure that our methods for studying the brain using autopsy tissue are robust and reproducible, there is a critical need to delineate the expected changes in brain cell morphometry during the PMI. We searched multiple databases to identify studies measuring the effects of PMI on the morphometry (i.e. external dimensions) of brain cells. We screened 2119 abstracts, 361 full texts, and included 172 studies. Mechanistically, fluid shifts causing cell volume alterations and vacuolization are an early event in the PMI, while the loss of the ability to visualize cell membranes altogether is a later event. Decomposition rates are highly heterogenous and depend on the methods for visualization, the structural feature of interest, and modifying variables such as the storage temperature or the species. Geometrically, deformations of cell membranes are common early events that initiate within minutes. On the other hand, topological relationships between cellular features appear to remain intact for more extended periods. Taken together, there is an uncertain period of time, usually ranging from several hours to several days, over which cell membrane structure is progressively lost. This review may be helpful for investigators studying human postmortem brain tissue, wherein the PMI is an unavoidable aspect of the research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M. Krassner
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Justin Kauffman
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Allison Sowa
- Microscopy and Advanced Bioimaging Core, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Katarzyna Cialowicz
- Microscopy and Advanced Bioimaging Core, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Samantha Walsh
- Hunter College Libraries, CUNY Hunter College, New York, NY
| | - Kurt Farrell
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - John F. Crary
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrew T. McKenzie
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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17
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Zapata-Sifuentes MA, Suzuki-Barrera K, Quispe-Salcedo A. [Importance of intracardiac perfusion fixation technique for in vivo studies in dentistry]. REVISTA CIENTÍFICA ODONTOLÓGICA 2023; 11:e148. [PMID: 38303740 PMCID: PMC10832397 DOI: 10.21142/2523-2754-1101-2023-148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
In vivo studies in dentistry require a high level of precision, since they involve the experimentation with a living organism, and further comprehensive histological analysis to validate the initial hypothesis. However, the process to obtained the histological slides to be studied is often wrongly minimized. In order to obtain high quality histological sections, which may be able to react favorably to more complex immunological techniques, it is necessary to preserve or "fix" the tissues of interest in an optimal manner. Intracardiac perfusion fixation has been described as a technique that offers superior results to other tissue fixation methods, allowing not only adequate sample stability, but also a deep cleansing and hardening of the tissues to allow further manipulation. Through a variation of the technique, it is possible to occlude the main arterial supply of the abdominal region to maintain direct perfusion of the fixator in the region of interest, such as the maxillofacial and thoracic region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Andre Zapata-Sifuentes
- Division of Anatomy and Cell Biology of the Hard Tissue, Department of Tissue Regeneration and Reconstruction, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences. Niigata, Japan. , , Division of Anatomy and Cell Biology of the Hard Tissue Department of Tissue Regeneration and Reconstruction Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Niigata Japan
| | - Kiyoko Suzuki-Barrera
- Division of Anatomy and Cell Biology of the Hard Tissue, Department of Tissue Regeneration and Reconstruction, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences. Niigata, Japan. , , Division of Anatomy and Cell Biology of the Hard Tissue Department of Tissue Regeneration and Reconstruction Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Niigata Japan
| | - Angela Quispe-Salcedo
- Division of Anatomy and Cell Biology of the Hard Tissue, Department of Tissue Regeneration and Reconstruction, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences. Niigata, Japan. , , Division of Anatomy and Cell Biology of the Hard Tissue Department of Tissue Regeneration and Reconstruction Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Niigata Japan
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18
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Frigon EM, Dadar M, Boire D, Maranzano J. Antigenicity is preserved with fixative solutions used in human gross anatomy: A mice brain immunohistochemistry study. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:957358. [DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.957358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundHistology remains the gold-standard to assess human brain biology, so ex vivo studies using tissue from brain banks are standard practice in neuroscientific research. However, a larger number of specimens could be obtained from gross anatomy laboratories. These specimens are fixed with solutions appropriate for dissections, but whether they also preserve brain tissue antigenicity is unclear. Therefore, we perfused mice brains with solutions used for human body preservation to assess and compare the tissue quality and antigenicity of the main cell populations.Materials and methodsTwenty-eight C57BL/6J mice were perfused with 4% formaldehyde (FAS, N = 9), salt-saturated solution (SSS, N = 9), and alcohol solution (AS, N = 10). The brains were cut into 40 μm sections for antigenicity analysis and were assessed by immunohistochemistry of four antigens: neuronal nuclei (NeuN), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP astrocytes), ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1-microglia), and myelin proteolipid protein (PLP). We compared the fixatives according to multiple variables: perfusion quality, ease of manipulation, tissue quality, immunohistochemistry quality, and antigenicity preservation.ResultsThe perfusion quality was better using FAS and worse using AS. The manipulation was very poor in SSS brains. FAS- and AS-fixed brains showed higher tissue and immunohistochemistry quality than the SSS brains. All antigens were readily observed in every specimen, regardless of the fixative solution.ConclusionSolutions designed to preserve specimens for human gross anatomy dissections also preserve tissue antigenicity in different brain cells. This offers opportunities for the use of human brains fixed in gross anatomy laboratories to assess normal or pathological conditions.
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Tsujimura K, Shiohama T, Takahashi E. microRNA Biology on Brain Development and Neuroimaging Approach. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12101366. [PMID: 36291300 PMCID: PMC9599180 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12101366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Proper brain development requires the precise coordination and orchestration of various molecular and cellular processes and dysregulation of these processes can lead to neurological diseases. In the past decades, post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression has been shown to contribute to various aspects of brain development and function in the central nervous system. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), short non-coding RNAs, are emerging as crucial players in post-transcriptional gene regulation in a variety of tissues, such as the nervous system. In recent years, miRNAs have been implicated in multiple aspects of brain development, including neurogenesis, migration, axon and dendrite formation, and synaptogenesis. Moreover, altered expression and dysregulation of miRNAs have been linked to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful imaging technology to obtain high-quality, detailed structural and functional information from the brains of human and animal models in a non-invasive manner. Because the spatial expression patterns of miRNAs in the brain, unlike those of DNA and RNA, remain largely unknown, a whole-brain imaging approach using MRI may be useful in revealing biological and pathological information about the brain affected by miRNAs. In this review, we highlight recent advancements in the research of miRNA-mediated modulation of neuronal processes that are important for brain development and their involvement in disease pathogenesis. Also, we overview each MRI technique, and its technological considerations, and discuss the applications of MRI techniques in miRNA research. This review aims to link miRNA biological study with MRI analytical technology and deepen our understanding of how miRNAs impact brain development and pathology of neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Tsujimura
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
- Group of Brain Function and Development, Nagoya University Neuroscience Institute of the Graduate School of Science, Nagoya 4648602, Japan
- Research Unit for Developmental Disorders, Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya 4648602, Japan
- Correspondence: (K.T.); (E.T.)
| | - Tadashi Shiohama
- Department of Pediatrics, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba 2608677, Japan
| | - Emi Takahashi
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
- Correspondence: (K.T.); (E.T.)
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20
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Volumetric assessment and longitudinal changes of subcortical structures in formalinized Beagle brains. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0261484. [PMID: 36206292 PMCID: PMC9543981 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
High field MRI is an advanced technique for diagnostic and research purposes on animal models, such as the Beagle dog. In this context, studies on neuroscience applications, e.g. aging and neuro-pathologies, are currently increasing. This led to a need for reference values, in terms of volumetric assessment, for the structures typically involved. Nowadays, several canine brain MRI atlases have been provided. However, no reports are available regarding the measurements’ reproducibility and little is known about the effect of formalin on MRI segmentation. Here, we assessed the segmentation variability of selected structures among operators (two operators segmented the same data) in a sample of 11 Beagle dogs. Then, we analyzed, for one Beagle dog, the longitudinal volumetric changes of these structures. We considered four conditions: in vivo, post mortem (after euthanasia), ex vivo (brain extracted and studied after 1 month in formalin, and after 12 months). The MRI data were collected with a 3 T scanner. Our findings suggest that the segmentation procedure was overall reproducible since only slight statistical differences were detected. In the post mortem/ ex vivo comparison, most structures showed a higher contrast, thereby leading to greater reproducibility between operators. We observed a net increase in the volume of the studied structures. This could be justified by the intrinsic relaxation time changes observed because of the formalin fixation. This led to an improvement in brain structure visualization and segmentation. To conclude, MRI-based segmentation seems to be a useful and accurate tool that allows longitudinal studies on formalin-fixed brains.
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21
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Aronica E, Binder DK, Drexel M, Ikonomidou C, Kadam SD, Sperk G, Steinhäuser C. A companion to the preclinical common data elements and case report forms for neuropathology studies in epilepsy research. A report of the TASK3 WG2 Neuropathology Working Group of the ILAE/AES Joint Translational Task Force. Epilepsia Open 2022. [PMID: 35938285 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12638] [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: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The International League Against Epilepsy/American Epilepsy Society (ILAE/AES) Joint Translational Task Force initiated the TASK3 working group to create common data elements (CDEs) for various aspects of preclinical epilepsy research studies, which could help improve the standardization of experimental designs. This article addresses neuropathological changes associated with seizures and epilepsy in rodent models of epilepsy. We discuss CDEs for histopathological parameters for neurodegeneration, changes in astrocyte morphology and function, mechanisms of inflammation, and changes in the blood-brain barrier and myelin/oligodendrocytes resulting from recurrent seizures in rats and mice. We provide detailed CDE tables and case report forms (CRFs), and with this companion manuscript, we discuss the rationale and methodological aspects of individual neuropathological examinations. The CDEs, CRFs, and companion paper are available to all researchers, and their use will benefit the harmonization and comparability of translational preclinical epilepsy research. The ultimate hope is to facilitate the development of rational therapy concepts for treating epilepsies, seizures, and comorbidities and the development of biomarkers assessing the pathological state of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Aronica
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN), Heemstede, The Netherlands
| | - Devin K Binder
- Center for Glial-Neuronal Interactions, Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Meinrad Drexel
- Department of Genetics and Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Shilpa D Kadam
- The Hugo Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Guenther Sperk
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christian Steinhäuser
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical School, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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22
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Beger AW, Hauther KA, Dudzik B, Woltjer RL, Wood PL. Human Brain Lipidomics: Investigation of Formalin Fixed Brains. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:835628. [PMID: 35782380 PMCID: PMC9245516 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.835628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human brain lipidomics have elucidated structural lipids and lipid signal transduction pathways in neurologic diseases. Such studies have traditionally sourced tissue exclusively from brain bank biorepositories, however, limited inventories signal that these facilities may not be able to keep pace with this growing research domain. Formalin fixed, whole body donors willed to academic institutions offer a potential supplemental tissue source, the lipid profiles of which have yet to be described. To determine the potential of these subjects in lipid analysis, the lipid levels of fresh and fixed frontal cortical gray matter of human donors were compared using high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Results revealed commensurate levels of specific triacylglycerols, diacylglycerols, hexosyl ceramides, and hydroxy hexosyl ceramides. Baseline levels of these lipid families in human fixed tissue were identified via a broader survey study covering six brain regions: cerebellar gray matter, superior cerebellar peduncle, gray and subcortical white matter of the precentral gyrus, periventricular white matter, and internal capsule. Whole body donors may therefore serve as supplemental tissue sources for lipid analysis in a variety of clinical contexts, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, multiple sclerosis, and Gaucher's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron W. Beger
- Department of Anatomy, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN, United States
| | - Kathleen A. Hauther
- Metabolomics Unit, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN, United States
| | - Beatrix Dudzik
- Department of Anatomy, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN, United States
| | - Randall L. Woltjer
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Paul L. Wood
- Metabolomics Unit, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN, United States
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23
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Chan KS, Hédouin R, Mollink J, Schulz J, van Cappellen van Walsum AM, Marques JP. Imaging white matter microstructure with gradient-echo phase imaging: Is ex vivo imaging with formalin-fixed tissue a good approximation of the in vivo brain? Magn Reson Med 2022; 88:380-390. [PMID: 35344591 PMCID: PMC9314807 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Ex vivo imaging is a commonly used approach to investigate the biophysical mechanism of orientation‐dependent signal phase evolution in white matter. Yet, how phase measurements are influenced by the structural alteration in the tissue after formalin fixation is not fully understood. Here, we study the effects on magnetic susceptibility, microstructural compartmentalization, and chemical exchange measurement with a postmortem formalin‐fixed whole‐brain human tissue. Methods A formalin‐fixed, postmortem human brain specimen was scanned with multiple orientations to the main magnetic field direction for robust bulk magnetic susceptibility measurement with conventional quantitative susceptibility imaging models. White matter samples were subsequently excised from the whole‐brain specimen and scanned in multiple rotations on an MRI scanner to measure the anisotropic magnetic susceptibility and microstructure‐related contributions in the signal phase and to validate the findings of the whole‐brain data. Results The bulk isotropic magnetic susceptibility of ex vivo whole‐brain imaging is comparable to in vivo imaging, with noticeable enhanced nonsusceptibility contributions. The excised specimen experiment reveals that anisotropic magnetic susceptibility and compartmentalization phase effect were considerably reduced in the formalin‐fixed white matter specimens. Conclusions Formalin‐fixed postmortem white matter exhibits comparable isotropic magnetic susceptibility to previous in vivo imaging findings. However, the measured phase and magnitude data of the fixed white matter tissue shows a significantly weaker orientation dependency and compartmentalization effect. Alternatives to formalin fixation are needed to better reproduce the in vivo microstructural effects in postmortem samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwok-Shing Chan
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Renaud Hédouin
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Empenn, INRIA, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Jeroen Mollink
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jenni Schulz
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anne-Marie van Cappellen van Walsum
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - José P Marques
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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24
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Schwarzmaiera SM, Knarr MR, Hu S, Ertürk A, Hellal F, Plesnila N. Perfusion pressure determines vascular integrity and histomorphological quality following perfusion fixation of the brain. J Neurosci Methods 2022; 372:109493. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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25
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McKenzie AT, Woodoff-Leith E, Dangoor D, Cervera A, Ressler HW, Whitney K, Dams-O'Connor K, Wu Z, Hillman EMC, Seifert AC, Crary JF. Ex situ perfusion fixation for brain banking: a technical report. FREE NEUROPATHOLOGY 2022; 3:3-22. [PMID: 37284166 PMCID: PMC10209847 DOI: 10.17879/freeneuropathology-2022-4368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Perfusion fixation is a well-established technique in animal research to improve preservation quality in the study of many tissues, including the brain. There is a growing interest in using perfusion to fix postmortem human brain tissue to achieve the highest fidelity preservation for downstream high-resolution morphomolecular brain mapping studies. Numerous practical barriers arise when applying perfusion fixation in brain banking settings, including the large mass of the organ, degradation of vascular integrity and patency prior to the start of the procedure, and differing investigator goals sometimes necessitating part of the brain to be frozen. As a result, there is a critical need to establish a perfusion fixation procedure in brain banking that is flexible and scalable. This technical report describes our approach to developing an ex situ perfusion fixation protocol. We discuss the challenges encountered and lessons learned while implementing this procedure. Routine morphological staining and RNA in situ hybridization data show that the perfused brains have well-preserved tissue cytoarchitecture and intact biomolecular signal. However, it remains uncertain whether this procedure leads to improved histology quality compared to immersion fixation. Additionally, ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data suggest that the perfusion fixation protocol may introduce imaging artifacts in the form of air bubbles in the vasculature. We conclude with further research directions to investigate the use of perfusion fixation as a rigorous and reproducible alternative to immersion fixation for the preparation of postmortem human brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T. McKenzie
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Emma Woodoff-Leith
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Diana Dangoor
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alessandra Cervera
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hadley Walsh Ressler
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kristen Whitney
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kristen Dams-O'Connor
- Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Zhuhao Wu
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Elizabeth M. C. Hillman
- Laboratory for Functional Optical Imaging, Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Radiology and the Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alan C. Seifert
- Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Department of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - John F. Crary
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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Gignac PM, O'Brien HD, Sanchez J, Vazquez-Sanroman D. Multiscale imaging of the rat brain using an integrated diceCT and histology workflow. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:2153-2168. [PMID: 34173869 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02316-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Advancements in tissue visualization techniques have spurred significant gains in the biomedical sciences by enabling researchers to integrate their datasets across anatomical scales. Of particular import are techniques that enable the interpolation of multiple hierarchical scales in samples taken from the same individuals. In this study, we demonstrate that two-dimensional histology techniques can be employed on neural tissues following three-dimensional diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography (diceCT) without causing tissue degradation. This represents the first step toward a multiscale pipeline for brain visualization. We studied brains from adolescent male Sprague-Dawley rats, comparing experimental (diceCT-stained then de-stained) to control (without diceCT) brains to examine neural tissues for immunolabeling integrity, compare somata sizes, and distinguish neurons from glial cells within the telencephalon and diencephalon. We hypothesized that if experimental and control samples do not differ significantly in morphological cell analysis, then brain tissues are robust to the chemical, temperature, and radiation environments required for these multiple, successive imaging protocols. Visualizations for experimental brains were first captured via micro-computed tomography scanning of isolated, iodine-infused specimens. Samples were then cleared of iodine, serially sectioned, and prepared again using immunofluorescent, fluorescent, and cresyl violet labeling, followed by imaging with confocal and light microscopy, respectively. Our results show that many neural targets are resilient to diceCT imaging and compatible with downstream histological staining as part of a low-cost, multiscale brain imaging pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Gignac
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, 74107, USA
| | - Haley D O'Brien
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, 74107, USA
| | - Jimena Sanchez
- Centro de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
| | - Dolores Vazquez-Sanroman
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, 74107, USA.
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Ahorsu DK, Adjaottor ES, Lam BYH. Intervention Effect of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation on Cognitive Functions among People with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11070840. [PMID: 34202739 PMCID: PMC8301762 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11070840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis aggregated and examined the treatment effect of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) (transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation) on cognitive functions in people with traumatic brain injury (TBI). A systematic search was conducted using databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, EMBASE) for studies with keywords related to non-randomized and randomized control trials of NIBS among people with TBI. Nine out of 1790 NIBS studies with 197 TBI participants (103 active vs. 94 sham) that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the present study were finally selected for meta-analysis using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (version 3). Results showed that the overall effect of NIBS on cognition in people with TBI was moderately significant (g = 0.304, 95% CI = 0.055 to 0.553) with very low heterogeneity across studies (I2 = 0.000, Tau = 0.000). Specifically, significant and marginally significant moderate effect sizes were found for cognitive sub-domains including attention, memory, and executive function. The present findings suggest that NIBS is moderately effective in improving cognitive functions among people with TBI. In particular, NIBS may be used as an alternative and/or an adjunct treatment to the traditional approach in rehabilitating cognitive functions in people with TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Emma Sethina Adjaottor
- Department of Behavioural Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ashanti, Ghana;
| | - Bess Yin Hung Lam
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence:
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28
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Tsutsumi Y. Pitfalls and Caveats in Applying Chromogenic Immunostaining to Histopathological Diagnosis. Cells 2021; 10:1501. [PMID: 34203756 PMCID: PMC8232789 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromogenic immunohistochemistry (immunostaining using an enzyme-labeled probe) is an essential histochemical technique for analyzing pathogenesis and making a histopathological diagnosis in routine pathology services. In neoplastic lesions, immunohistochemistry allows the study of specific clinical and biological features such as histogenesis, behavioral characteristics, therapeutic targets, and prognostic biomarkers. The needs for appropriate and reproducible methods of immunostaining are prompted by technical development and refinement, commercial availability of a variety of antibodies, advanced applicability of immunohistochemical markers, accelerated analysis of clinicopathological correlations, progress in molecular targeted therapy, and the expectation of advanced histopathological diagnosis. However, immunostaining does have various pitfalls and caveats. Pathologists should learn from previous mistakes and failures and from results indicating false positivity and false negativity. The present review article describes various devices, technical hints, and trouble-shooting guides to keep in mind when performing immunostaining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Tsutsumi
- Diagnostic Pathology Clinic, Pathos Tsutsumi, 1551-1 Sankichi-ato, Yawase-cho, Inazawa 492-8342, Aichi, Japan; ; Tel.: +81-587-96-7088; Fax: +81-587-96-7098
- Specially Appointed Professor, School of Medical Technology, Yokkaichi Nursing and Medical Care University, 1200 Kayou-cho, Yokkaichi 512-8045, Mie, Japan
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29
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Naessens DMP, Dobbe JGG, de Vos J, VanBavel E, Bakker ENTP. Mapping Solute Clearance From the Mouse Hippocampus Using a 3D Imaging Cryomicrotome. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:631325. [PMID: 33867918 PMCID: PMC8044999 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.631325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus is susceptible to protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. This protein accumulation is partially attributed to an impaired clearance; however, the removal pathways for fluids and waste products are not fully understood. The aim of this study was therefore to map the clearance pathways from the mouse brain. A mixture of two fluorescently labeled tracers with different molecular weights was infused into the hippocampus. A small subset of mice (n = 3) was sacrificed directly after an infusion period of 10 min to determine dispersion of the tracer due to the infusion, while another group was sacrificed after spreading of the tracers for an additional 80 min (n = 7). Upon sacrifice, mice were frozen and sectioned as a whole by the use of a custom-built automated imaging cryomicrotome. Detailed 3D reconstructions were created to map the tracer spreading. We observed that tracers distributed over the hippocampus and entered adjacent brain structures, such as the cortex and cerebroventricular system. An important clearance pathway was found along the ventral part of the hippocampus and its bordering interpeduncular cistern. From there, tracers left the brain via the subarachnoid spaces in the directions of both the nose and the spinal cord. Although both tracers followed the same route, the small tracer distributed further, implying a major role for diffusion in addition to convection. Taken together, these results reveal an important clearance pathway of solutes from the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne M P Naessens
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Johannes G G Dobbe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Judith de Vos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ed VanBavel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Erik N T P Bakker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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30
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Stringer MS, Lee H, Huuskonen MT, MacIntosh BJ, Brown R, Montagne A, Atwi S, Ramirez J, Jansen MA, Marshall I, Black SE, Zlokovic BV, Benveniste H, Wardlaw JM. A Review of Translational Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Human and Rodent Experimental Models of Small Vessel Disease. Transl Stroke Res 2020; 12:15-30. [PMID: 32936435 PMCID: PMC7803876 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-020-00843-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a major health burden, yet the pathophysiology remains poorly understood with no effective treatment. Since much of SVD develops silently and insidiously, non-invasive neuroimaging such as MRI is fundamental to detecting and understanding SVD in humans. Several relevant SVD rodent models are established for which MRI can monitor in vivo changes over time prior to histological examination. Here, we critically review the MRI methods pertaining to salient rodent models and evaluate synergies with human SVD MRI methods. We found few relevant publications, but argue there is considerable scope for greater use of MRI in rodent models, and opportunities for harmonisation of the rodent-human methods to increase the translational potential of models to understand SVD in humans. We summarise current MR techniques used in SVD research, provide recommendations and examples and highlight practicalities for use of MRI SVD imaging protocols in pre-selected, relevant rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Stringer
- Brain Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Hedok Lee
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Mikko T Huuskonen
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bradley J MacIntosh
- Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rosalind Brown
- Brain Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Axel Montagne
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sarah Atwi
- Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joel Ramirez
- Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maurits A Jansen
- Edinburgh Preclinical Imaging, Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ian Marshall
- Brain Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sandra E Black
- Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Berislav V Zlokovic
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Helene Benveniste
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Joanna M Wardlaw
- Brain Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. .,UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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31
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Maranzano J, Dadar M, Bertrand-Grenier A, Frigon EM, Pellerin J, Plante S, Duchesne S, Tardif CL, Boire D, Bronchti G. A novel ex vivo, in situ method to study the human brain through MRI and histology. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 345:108903. [PMID: 32777310 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND MRI-histology correlation studies of the ex vivo brain mostly employ fresh, extracted (ex situ) specimens, aldehyde fixed by immersion, which has several disadvantages for MRI scanning (e.g. deformation of the organ). A minority of studies are done ex vivo-in situ (unfixed brain), requiring an MRI scanner readily available within a few hours of the time of death. NEW METHOD We propose a new technique, exploited by anatomists, for scanning the ex vivo brain: fixation by whole body perfusion, which implies fixation of the brain in situ. This allows scanning the brain surrounded by fluids, meninges, and skull, preserving the structural relationships of the brain in vivo. To evaluate the proposed method, five heads perfused-fixed with a saturated sodium chloride solution were employed. Three sequences were acquired on a 1.5 T MRI scanner: T1weighted, T2weighted-FLAIR, and Gradient-echo. Histology analysis included immunofluorescence for myelin basic protein and neuronal nuclei. RESULTS All MRIs were successfully processed through a validated pipeline used with in vivo MRIs. All cases exhibited positive antigenicity for myelin and neuronal nuclei. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS All scans registered to a standard neuroanatomical template in pseudo-Talairach space more accurately than an ex vivo-ex situ scan. The time interval to scan the ex vivo brain in situ was increased to at least 10 months. CONCLUSIONS MRI and histology study of the ex vivo-in situ brain fixed by perfusion is an alternative approach that has important procedural and practical advantages over the two standard methods to study the ex vivo brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefina Maranzano
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada(2); McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
| | - Mahsa Dadar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Antony Bertrand-Grenier
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, UQTR, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada; Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec (CIUSSS MCQ), Canada
| | - Eve-Marie Frigon
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada(2)
| | - Johanne Pellerin
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada(2)
| | - Sophie Plante
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada(2)
| | - Simon Duchesne
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada; CERVO Brain Research Center, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Christine L Tardif
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Denis Boire
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada(2)
| | - Gilles Bronchti
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada(2)
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Tang K, Wan M, Zhang H, Zhang Q, Yang Q, Chen K, Wang N, Zhang D, Qiu W, Ma C. The top 100 most-cited articles citing human brain banking from 1970 to 2020: a bibliometric analysis. Cell Tissue Bank 2020; 21:685-697. [PMID: 32761559 DOI: 10.1007/s10561-020-09849-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Many articles involving human brain banks have been published. Bibliometric analysis can determine the history of the development of research and future research trends in a specific field. Three independent researchers retrieved and reviewed articles from the Web of Science database using the following strategy: "TS = (((brain OR cerebral) AND (bank* OR biobank*)) OR brainbank*)." The top 100 most-cited articles were identified and listed in descending order by total citations. Web of Science was used to identify ten recent articles describing bank construction. GeenMedical ( https://www.geenmedical.com/ ) was used to identify ten recent articles from journals with an impact factor (IF) > 20. The top 100 most-cited articles citing human brain banks were published between 1991 and 2017. Fifty-two percent of the articles focused on a specific type of neurodegenerative disease, and 16% discussed the construction and development of human brain banks. Articles using brain tissue had more total and annual citations than those on bank construction. Ten articles with high IFs were published from 2017 to 2019, and they were primarily studies using novel research techniques such RNA sequencing and genome-wide association studies. Most studies were published in journals specializing in neurology or neuroscience such as Movement Disorders (10%), and had been conducted in the United States (52%) by neurologists (62%). The top 100 most-cited articles and recent publications citing human brain banks and their bibliometric characteristics were identified and analyzed, which may serve as a useful reference and pave the way for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyun Tang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Eight-Year MD Program, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Mengyao Wan
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Eight-Year MD Program, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hanlin Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Eight-Year MD Program, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Yang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Kang Chen
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Eight-Year MD Program, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Naili Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,National Experimental Demonstration Center of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Di Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,National Experimental Demonstration Center of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Wenying Qiu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Chao Ma
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China. .,Joint Laboratory of Anesthesia and Pain, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
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Histomorphometric Investigation of Changes In Adult Rat Testis After Experimental Vasectomy At Different Periods. ANADOLU KLINIĞI TIP BILIMLERI DERGISI 2020. [DOI: 10.21673/anadoluklin.666778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Use of fixatives for immunohistochemistry and their application for detection of retinoic acid synthesizing enzymes in the central nervous system. Methods Enzymol 2020; 637:119-150. [PMID: 32359643 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2020.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA) is a lipid signaling molecule that has a crucial role in growth and survival of neurons as well as regulation of neuronal plasticity in the central nervous system. Complete understanding of the distribution of RA is necessary to identify foci of RA signaling. However, RA itself is very difficult to detect by immunohistochemistry as there are few effective antibodies to this lipid and it can be difficult to fix in place in tissue. A set of retinaldehyde dehydrogenases (RALDHs) catalyze the last step of RA synthesis and their distribution can be used as a proxy for RA distribution. This protocol uses the example of RALDH2 expression in the motor neurons of the spinal cord as a demonstration of the approach and describes methods that can improve its effectiveness. Immunodetection is impacted by protein cross linking and protein denaturation as well as antigen/epitope masking by various fixatives. Finding a suitable fixative that preserves morphology and tissue structure by linking cellular component such as proteins and lipids in an indissoluble macromolecular network while keeping functional groups, including antigens, intact is essential. Here, we discuss fixatives in general and also describe a fixation protocol that allows detection of multiple antigens in the same section with a periodate-lysine-paraformaldehyde (PLP) fixative. This keeps tissue structure and antigen well preserved in the adult spinal cord to show RALDH2 expression in motor neurons.
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