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Oz S, Saar G, Olszakier S, Heinrich R, Kompanets MO, Berlin S. Revealing the MRI-Contrast in Optically Cleared Brains. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2400316. [PMID: 38647385 PMCID: PMC11165557 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202400316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The current consensus holds that optically-cleared specimens are unsuitable for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); exhibiting absence of contrast. Prior studies combined MRI with tissue-clearing techniques relying on the latter's ability to eliminate lipids, thereby fostering the assumption that lipids constitute the primary source of ex vivo MRI-contrast. Nevertheless, these findings contradict an extensive body of literature that underscores the contribution of other features to contrast. Furthermore, it remains unknown whether non-delipidating clearing methods can produce MRI-compatible specimens or whether MRI-contrast can be re-established. These limitations hinder the development of multimodal MRI-light-microscopy (LM) imaging approaches. This study assesses the relation between MRI-contrast, and delipidation in optically-cleared whole brains following different tissue-clearing approaches. It is demonstrated that uDISCO and ECi-brains are MRI-compatible upon tissue rehydration, despite both methods' substantial delipidating-nature. It is also demonstrated that, whereas Scale-clearing preserves most lipids, Scale-cleared brain lack MRI-contrast. Furthermore, MRI-contrast is restored to lipid-free CLARITY-brains without introducing lipids. Our results thereby dissociate between the essentiality of lipids to MRI-contrast. A tight association is found between tissue expansion, hyperhydration and loss of MRI-contrast. These findings then enabled us to develop a multimodal MRI-LM-imaging approach, opening new avenues to bridge between the micro- and mesoscale for biomedical research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shimrit Oz
- Department of NeuroscienceFaculty of MedicineTechnion‐Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifa3525433Israel
| | - Galit Saar
- Biomedical Core FacilityFaculty of MedicineTechnion‐Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifa3525433Israel
| | - Shunit Olszakier
- Department of NeuroscienceFaculty of MedicineTechnion‐Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifa3525433Israel
| | - Ronit Heinrich
- Department of NeuroscienceFaculty of MedicineTechnion‐Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifa3525433Israel
| | - Mykhail O. Kompanets
- L.M. Litvinenko Institute of Physico‐Organic Chemistry and Coal ChemistryNational Academy of Sciences of UkraineKyivUkraine
| | - Shai Berlin
- Department of NeuroscienceFaculty of MedicineTechnion‐Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifa3525433Israel
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He C, Yuan Y, Gong C, Wang X, Lyu G. Applications of Tissue Clearing in Central and Peripheral Nerves. Neuroscience 2024; 546:104-117. [PMID: 38570062 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.03.030] [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: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The techniques of tissue clearing have been proposed and applied in anatomical and biomedical research since the 19th century. As we all know, the original study of the nervous system relied on serial ultrathin sections and stereoscopic techniques. The 3D visualization of the nervous system was established by software splicing and reconstruction. With the development of science and technology, microscope equipment had constantly been upgraded. Despite the great progress that has been made in this field, the workload is too complex, and it needs high technical requirements. Abundant mistakes due to manual sections were inescapable and structural integrity remained questionable. According to the classification of tissue transparency methods, we introduced the latest application of transparency methods in central and peripheral nerve research from optical imaging, molecular markers and data analysis. This review summarizes the application of transparent technology in neural pathways. We hope to provide some inspiration for the continuous optimization of tissue clearing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng He
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Ye Yuan
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Chuanhui Gong
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xueying Wang
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Guangming Lyu
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China; Department of Anatomy, Institute of Neurobiology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China.
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MAX: a simple, affordable, and rapid tissue clearing reagent for 3D imaging of wide variety of biological specimens. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19508. [PMID: 36376344 PMCID: PMC9663452 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23376-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transparency of biological specimens is crucial to obtaining detailed 3-dimensional images and understanding the structure and function of biological specimens. This transparency or tissue clearing can be achieved by adjusting the refractive index (RI) with embedding media and removing light barriers such as lipids, inorganic deposits, and pigments. Many currently available protocols consist of multiple steps to achieve sufficient transparency, making the process complex and time-consuming. Thus, in this study, we tailored the recipe for RI adjustment media named MAX based on the recently reported MACS protocol to achieve a single-step procedure, especially for ECM-rich tissues. This was achieved by the improvement of the tissue penetrability of the RI-matching reagent by combining MXDA with sucrose or iodixanol. While this was sufficient for the 3D imaging in many applications, MAX can also be combined with modular processes for de-lipidation, de-coloration, and de-calcification to further maximize the transparency depending on the special features of the tissues. Our approach provides an easy alternative for tissue clearing and 3D imaging.
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Brenna C, Simioni C, Varano G, Conti I, Costanzi E, Melloni M, Neri LM. Optical tissue clearing associated with 3D imaging: application in preclinical and clinical studies. Histochem Cell Biol 2022; 157:497-511. [PMID: 35235045 PMCID: PMC9114043 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-022-02081-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the inner morphology of intact tissues is one of the most competitive challenges in modern biology. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, optical tissue clearing (OTC) has provided solutions for volumetric imaging, allowing the microscopic visualization of thick sections of tissue, organoids, up to whole organs and organisms (for example, mouse or rat). Recently, tissue clearing has also been introduced in clinical settings to achieve a more accurate diagnosis with the support of 3D imaging. This review aims to give an overview of the most recent developments in OTC and 3D imaging and to illustrate their role in the field of medical diagnosis, with a specific focus on clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Brenna
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.,Medical Research Center, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Carolina Simioni
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.,LTTA - Electron Microscopy Center, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gabriele Varano
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Ilaria Conti
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Eva Costanzi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Mattia Melloni
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Luca Maria Neri
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy. .,LTTA - Electron Microscopy Center, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
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Sensitive label-free imaging of brain samples using FxClear-based tissue clearing technique. iScience 2021; 24:102267. [PMID: 33817573 PMCID: PMC8005756 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102267] [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: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Optical clearing has emerged as a powerful tool for volume imaging. Although volume imaging with immunostaining have been successful in many protocols, yet obtaining homogeneously stained thick samples remains challenging. Here, we propose a method for label-free imaging of brain slices by enhancing the regional heterogeneity of the optical properties using the tissue clearing principle. We used FxClear, a method for delipidation of brain tissue, to retain a larger proportion of lipids at the white matter (WM). Furthermore, the embedding media affected the contrasts for the lipid-rich or extracellular matrix-rich areas, depending on their chemical properties. Thus, we tailored clearing conditions for the enhancement of the refractive indices (RIs) differences between gray and WM, or several pathological features. RI differences can be imaged using conventional light microscopy or optical coherence tomography. We propose that our protocol is simple, reliable, and flexible for label-free imaging, easily implementable to routine histology laboratory.
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