This work was funded by NIH grants: NS100624, DA013137, HD043680, MH106392 &#38; by T32 Training Grant 5T32GM081740

All animal protocols were reviewed and approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee at the University of South Carolina.
1. Stock solution preparation
<ol>
	<li>Solution 1 (1 L): To 900 mL of deionized H2O add 100 mL of 10x phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and 2 mL of Triton X-100.</li>
	<li>Solution 2 (1 L): To 900 mL of deionized H2O, add 100 mL of 10x PBS, 2mL of Tween-20 and 1 mL of 10 mg/mL Heparin stock solution.</li>
	<li>Solution 3 (500 mL): To 400 mL of Solutio...

<ol>
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F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=HIV-1+proteins,+Tat+and+gp120,+target+the+developing+dopamine+system.">HIV-1 proteins, Tat and gp120, target the developing dopamine system.</a> Current HIV Research. 13, 135-137 (2015).</li><li>Javadi-Paydar, M., Roscoe, R. F., Denton, A. R., Mactutus, C. F., Booze, R. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=HIV-1+and+cocaine+disrupt+dopamine+reuptake+and+medium+spiny+neurons+in+female+rat+striatum.">HIV-1 and cocaine disrupt dopamine reuptake and medium spiny neurons in female rat striatum.</a> PLos One. 12 (11), 0188404 (2017).</li><li>Bertrand, S. J., Mactutus, C. F., Harrod, S. B., Moran, L. M., Booze, R. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=HIV-1+proteins+dysregulate+motivational+processes+and+dopamine+circuitry.">HIV-1 proteins dysregulate motivational processes and dopamine circuitry.</a> Science Report. 8, 6152 (2018).</li><li>Denton, A. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Selective+monoaminergic+and+histaminergic+circuit+dysregulation+following+long-term+HIV-1+protein+exposure.">Selective monoaminergic and histaminergic circuit dysregulation following long-term HIV-1 protein exposure.</a> Journal of neurovirology. 25 (4), 540-550 (2019).</li><li>Berendse, H. W., Groenewegen, H. J., Lohman, A. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Compartmental+distribution+of+ventral+striatal+neurons+projecting+to+the+mesencephalon+in+the+rat.">Compartmental distribution of ventral striatal neurons projecting to the mesencephalon in the rat.</a> Journal of Neuroscienc. 12 (6), 2079-2103 (1992).</li><li>Peyron, C., Petit, J. M., Rampon, C., Jouvet, M., Luppi, P. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Forebrain+afferents+to+the+rat+dorsal+raphe+nucleus+demonstrated+by+retrograde+and+anterograde+tracing+methods.">Forebrain afferents to the rat dorsal raphe nucleus demonstrated by retrograde and anterograde tracing methods.</a> Neuroscience. 82 (2), 443-468 (1998).</li><li>Barrot, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Braking+dopamine+systems:+a+new+GABA+master+structure+for+mesolimbic+and+nigrostriatal+functions.">Braking dopamine systems: a new GABA master structure for mesolimbic and nigrostriatal functions.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience: The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscienc. 32 (41), 14094-14101 (2012).</li><li>Roostalu, U., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Quantitative+whole-brain+3D+imaging+of+tyrosine+hydroxylase-labeled+neuron+architecture+in+the+mouse+MPTP+model+of+Parkinson's+disease.">Quantitative whole-brain 3D imaging of tyrosine hydroxylase-labeled neuron architecture in the mouse MPTP model of Parkinson's disease.</a> Disease Models &amp; Mechanisms. 12 (11), (2019).</li><li>Ransohoff, R., Cardona, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+myeloid+cells+of+the+central+nervous+system+parenchyma.">The myeloid cells of the central nervous system parenchyma.</a> Nature. 468, 253-262 (2010).</li><li>Rocha, M. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tissue+Clearing+and+Light+Sheet+Microscopy:+Imaging+the+Unsectioned+Adult+Zebra+Finch+Brain+at+Cellular+Resolution.">Tissue Clearing and Light Sheet Microscopy: Imaging the Unsectioned Adult Zebra Finch Brain at Cellular Resolution.</a> Frontiers in Neuroanatomy. 13, 13 (2019).</li><li>Richardson, D. S., Lichtman, J. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Clarifying+tissue+clearing.">Clarifying tissue clearing.</a> Cell. 162 (2), 246-257 (2015).</li></ol>

Tissue clearing offers a solution to the limitations of traditional IHC protocol. A sample that is transparent minimizes the scattering and absorption of light, which provides cellular level optical access to intact tissues18,19. Tissue clearing techniques turn a tissue transparent through delipidation, decolorization, and decalcification with the administration of solvents. Once the refractive index of the tissue sample matches the refractive index of the chosen...

Several tissue clearing techniques have been validated for the use in the brain: hydrogel, hydrophilic, and hydrophobic. These techniques aim to turn a tissue transparent through delipidation, decolorization, and decalcification via the administration of solvents. Once the refractive index of the tissue sample matches the refractive index of the chosen imaging medium, a clear image of the sample can be obtained. Hydrogel based techniques, such as CLARITY, secure biomolecules in the tissue by linking them to acryl-based hydrogels, which prevents structural damage and loss of proteins1. However, hydrogel techniques utilize harsh chemicals than have the potential to damage more fragile tissues, and denser tissue samples may not be compatible with hydrogel protocol. Certain hydrogel techniques may require expensive equipment or lead to tissue expansion. Hydrophilic techniques, like CUBIC, preserve 3D structure through the formation of hydrogen bonds within the tissue2. Tissue expansion can also occur in certain hydrophilic protocol. The clearing ability of hydrophilic techniques often does not match the ability that hydrophobic techniques have, which is important for denser and thicker tissues3.
Hydrophobic techniques are usually fast, do not require special equipment, and produce a sample that is easy to handle and store. iDISCO is a hydrophobic technique that eliminates the shrinkage that can occur in other hydrophobic protocol. Originally, the iDISCO tissue clearing technique was described by Renier et al.4 for the embryos and dense, adult organs of mice. This technique removes water from the tissue in the initial dehydration step, thereby reducing the light scatter. Tissue is permeabilized during pretreatment to allow deep antibody penetration. Alexa Fluor dyes in the far-red spectrum are used for immunolabeling to avoid autofluorescence of the tissue at lower wavelengths5. Tissue that has undergone hydrophobic clearing protocols are able to be handled easily and can be imaged several times due to the longevity of the Alexa Fluor dyes. If properly stored, tissues can provide images for months to a year after initial processing.
In the present protocol, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antibody, Iba1 antibody, and Cholera Toxin Subunit B (CTB) were used on both male and female control and HIV-1 transgenic (Tg) rat brains. The HIV-1 Tg rat possesses seven of the nine genes that comprise the HIV-1 viral genome, which leads to a non-infectious model of long-term HIV-1 protein exposure6,7,8. Dopaminergic alterations have previously been demonstrated in the HIV-1 Tg rat, and HIV-1 itself is an inflammatory disease, so the antibody choice was relevant to the experimental design9,10,11,12. CTB is a tracer that attaches to neurons via ganglioside binding and can be used to trace afferent projections in the brain. CTB has been previously used to study projections from the nucleus accumbens to the substantia nigra area, two areas of the brain heavily involved with dopaminergic pathways13,14,15.
In this protocol, TH will serve as a marker for dopamine production, and Iba1 will mark activated microglia. The TH antibody used selectively labels a single band at approximately 62 kDa that corresponds to tyrosine hydroxylase. The Iba1 antibody corresponds to the Iba1 carboxy-terminal sequence. Both antibodies were raised in rabbit and were polyclonal. CTB will be used for retrograde tracing of neurons from the nucleus accumbens area to the substantia nigra area. The current protocol also offers a guideline for adjustment of the original iDISCO protocol in two distinct ways: 1) overall reduction of the background staining by changing the serum reagents in the blocking steps, and 2) scaling of the incubation time to be suitable for larger tissue samples. Overall, the present protocol provides continued evidence that hydrophobic clearing techniques are feasible in brain tissues of the rat, have no discernible detrimental interactions with HIV-1 viral proteins, and are compatible with TH antibody, Iba1 antibody, and CTB.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Cholera Toxin Subunit B (Recombinant), Alexa Fluor 488</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>C34775</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DBE</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>108014-1KG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DCM</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>270997-100mL</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMSO</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>472301-1L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glycine</td>
			<td>Fisher Chemical</td>
			<td>G46-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat anti-rabbit Alexa Fluor Plus 647</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>A32733</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat serum</td>
			<td>Sigma Life Science</td>
			<td>G9023-10mL</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heparin</td>
			<td>Acros Organics</td>
			<td>41121-0010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Iba1 primary antibody</td>
			<td>FUJIFILM Wako</td>
			<td>019-19741</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Kwik-sil epoxy</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>70730-062</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methanol</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>34860-1l-R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS</td>
			<td>Fisher Bioreagents</td>
			<td>BP2944-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Perfusion machine</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>70730-062</td>
			<td>mini pump variable flow</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PFA</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>158127-3KG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TH primary antibody</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>AB152</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TritonX-100</td>
			<td>Fisher Bioreagents</td>
			<td>BP151-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tween-20</td>
			<td>Fisher Bioreagents</td>
			<td>BP337-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a hydrophobic tissue clearing method for rat brain tissue

Hydrophobic tissue clearing methods are easily adjustable, fast, and low-cost procedures that allows for the study of a molecule of interest in unaltered tissue samples. Traditional immunolabeling procedures require cutting the sample into thin sections, which restricts the ability to label and examine intact structures. However, if brain tissue can remain intact during processing, structures and circuits can remain intact for the analysis. Previously established clearing methods take significant time to completely clear the tissue, and the harsh chemicals can often damage sensitive antibodies. The iDISCO method quickly and completely clears tissue, is compatible with many antibodies, and requires no special lab equipment. This technique was initially validated for the use in mice tissue, but the current protocol adapts this method to image hemispheres of control and transgenic rat brains. In addition to this, the present protocol also makes several adjustments to preexisting protocol to provide clearer images with less background staining. Antibodies for Iba-1 and tyrosine hydroxylase were validated in the HIV-1 transgenic rat and in F344/N control rats using the present hydrophobic tissue clearing method. The brain is an interwoven network, where structures work together more often than separately of one another. Analyzing the brain as a whole system as opposed to a combination of individual pieces is the greatest benefit of this whole brain clearing method.

Full clearing of large sections of both F344/N and HIV-1 rat brain tissue was achieved using this modified hydrophobic tissue clearing protocol. Figure 1 displays a typical confocal image for TH in the substantia nigra region. Figure 1A represents dense, positive staining. Dense areas such as these can be parsed out by focusing through the &#8220;Z&#8221; plane to confirm positive staining and proper cell morphology. Figure 1B repre...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Hydrophobic Tissue Clearing Method for Rat Brain Tissue at JoVE.com

A Hydrophobic Tissue Clearing Method for Rat Brain Tissue

Here we present a hydrophobic tissue clearing method that allows for the viewing of target molecules as part of intact brain structures. This technique has now been validated for F344/N control and HIV-1 transgenic rats of both sexes.

Hydrophobic tissue clearing methods are easily adjustable, fast, and low-cost procedures that allows for the study of a molecule of interest in unaltered ...

The overall goal of this clearing technique is to establish a tissue clearing method for the rat brain. This protocol can also be used for the HIV-1 transgenic rat. The main advantage of this technique is that the rat brain tissue can be left intact for clearing thus allowing for full circuit level analysis.Demonstrating the procedure will be Kristin Kirchner, a PhD candidate from my laboratory, and also Hailong Li, a research associate from my lab. After performing transcardial perfusion in a three to six week old rat, remove the brain from the skull using forceps. Then place it in a sagittal position and slice it into four equal three millimeter wide sections using a razor blade and a rat brain matrix.Fix each section in four percent PFA in a sealed five milliliter plastic tube overnight on a shaker at four degrees Celsius. On the next day, continue the fixation at room temperature for one hour. Wash each section three times with PBS for about 30 minutes per wash.Serially incubate the washed sections in 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%methanol solution for one hour each. Repeat the dehydration with 100%methanol. Then chill the samples in 100%methanol at four degrees Celsius for 10 minutes.Prepare a solution containing 66%DCM and 33%methanol and incubate the chilled sections in this solution overnight at room temperature with shaking. On the next day, wash the sample twice with methanol for 30 minutes and chill it in 100%methanol at four degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. For bleaching, place the sample in fresh five percent hydrogen peroxide in methanol and incubate it overnight at four degrees Celsius.After the overnight incubation, serially incubate the sample in 80, 60, 40, and 20%methanol solutions for one hour each at room temperature. Then incubate the sample in PBS for one hour and wash it twice in solution one for one hour per wash. Fill a one milliliter syringe with 2.5 microliters of one percent biotin-CTB and slowly inject it into the nucleus accumbens site over 20 seconds.Leave the needle tip in place for one minute and remove it slowly over 10 seconds to prevent leakage. Incubate the sample in solution three and then solution four for two days each in a 37 degrees Celsius water bath. Then add the primary antibody and continue the incubation for seven days.Wash the sample five times in solution two for one hour per wash and store it in solution two at room temperature overnight. Incubate the sample with a secondary antibody for seven days in a 37 degrees Celsius water bath. Finally, wash it five times in solution two for one hour per wash and store it in solution two at room temperature overnight in low light.Incubate the sample serially in 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%methanol for one hour each at room temperature. Then incubate it in fresh 100%methanol overnight. On the next day, incubate the sample in freshly prepared 66%DCM in 33%methanol for three hours at room temperature with shaking.After three hours, incubate the sample in dibenzyl ether without shaking until it is clear. Then store it in dibenzyl ether until imaging. Obtain a 3D printer chamber and secure it to a microscope slide using epoxy.Place the sample in the square space in the middle of the chamber and completely fill the chamber with dibenzyl ether. Place a 0.17 millimeter thick cover slip over the chamber and apply pressure to ensure it is in full contact with the chamber walls. Then seal the edges using epoxy.Make sure to rotate the chamber to allow air bubbles to escape from the filling inlet. Fill the chamber with additional dibenzyl ether. Then seal the filling inlet with epoxy and allow it to cure.Observe the specimen using a confocal microscope system to perform a z-scan at four times magnification. The confocal image of hydrophobically-cleared tissue sample at four times magnification shows dense TH staining in the substantia nigra area, sparse TH neurons adjacent to the substantia nigra, and a dark black area of tissue lacking TH neurons. Typical morphology of a TH-positive neuron at 20 times magnification has a large soma and several branching processes.Whereas IBA1-stained microglia have small cell bodies and shorter extending processes. The ideal confocal image shows positive and dense TH staining in the substantia nigra area with suitable fluorescence gain. Examples of poor confocal images include an improperly focused image with too much fluorescent gain, a false positive staining with bright spots not in focus with the rest of the tissue, and a high background staining as a result of using a blocking serum that does not match with a secondary antibody.Positive CTB staining in the rat brain is shown here. The long thin fibers are afferent projections along the dopaminergic pathway. Colocalization of TH and CTB makes it possible to visualize the injection site in the nucleus accumbens area which appears as a densely fluorescent green circle.Colocalization of TH and CTB in the substantia nigra is shown here. The most important things to remember in attempting this procedure are to allow the sample plenty of time to incubate in all antibody solutions and plenty of time to fully clear before imaging. The sample should have limited exposure to air as this will damage the sample.This technique is highly versatile and can be used to investigate many different proteins of interest throughout different regions of the brain. The present technique helps pave the way for neuroscientists to investigate the rat brain on a circuit level which is essential for the study of brain as a whole system.

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3.8K vues.  University of South Carolina. The overall goal of this clearing technique is to establish a tissue clearing method for the rat brain. This protocol can also be used for the HIV-1 transgenic rat. The main advantage of this technique is that the rat brain tissue can be left intact for clearing thus allowing for full circuit level analysis.Demonstrating the procedure will be Kristin Kirchner, a PhD candidate from my laboratory, and also Hailong Li, a research associate from my lab. After performing transcardial perfus...