Name: simultaneous cryosectioning of multiple rodent brains
Uploaded: 2018-09-18T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Simultaneous Cryosectioning of Multiple Rodent Brains at JoVE.com

PCH Mission Support Funds supported the research reported in this manuscript. The authors would like to thank Daniel Griffiths for taking the images used in the figures.

The Megabrain technique has been optimized using whole and hemisected brains from male adult C57Bl6 mice5, juvenile Sprague-Dawley rats, and adult Sprague-Dawley rats that were transcardially perfused with 1x phosphate buffered saline (PBS) followed by 4% paraformaldehyde6. Similar outcomes can be accomplished in other strains of mouse and rat, in both sexes and at different ages. The study to generate data for this manuscript used juvenile Sprague-Dawley rats and was appro...

<ol>
	<li>Lyck, L., Dalmau, I., Chemnitz, J., Finsen, B., Schroder, H. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Immunohistochemical+markers+for+quantitative+studies+of+neurons+and+glia+in+human+neocortex.">Immunohistochemical markers for quantitative studies of neurons and glia in human neocortex.</a> Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. 56 (3), 201-221 (2008).</li><li>Fritz, P., Wu, X., Tuczek, H., Multhaupt, H., Schwarzmann, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Quantitation+in+immunohistochemistry.+A+research+method+or+a+diagnostic+tool+in+surgical+pathology?.">Quantitation in immunohistochemistry. A research method or a diagnostic tool in surgical pathology?.</a> Pathologica. 87 (3), 300-309 (1995).</li><li>Walker, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Quantification+of+immunohistochemistry--issues+concerning+methods,+utility+and+semiquantitative+assessment+I.">Quantification of immunohistochemistry--issues concerning methods, utility and semiquantitative assessment I.</a> Histopathology. 49 (4), 406-410 (2006).</li><li>Evilsizor, M. N., Ray-Jones, H. F., Lifshitz, J., Ziebell, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Primer+for+immunohistochemistry+on+cryosectioned+rat+brain+tissue:+example+staining+for+microglia+and+neurons.">Primer for immunohistochemistry on cryosectioned rat brain tissue: example staining for microglia and neurons.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (99), (2015).</li><li>Harrison, J. L., 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=Resolvins+AT-D1+and+E1+differentially+impact+functional+outcome,+post-traumatic+sleep,+and+microglial+activation+following+diffuse+brain+injury+in+the+mouse.">Resolvins AT-D1 and E1 differentially impact functional outcome, post-traumatic sleep, and microglial activation following diffuse brain injury in the mouse.</a> Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 47, 131-140 (2015).</li><li>Gage, G. J., Kipke, D. R., Shain, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Whole+animal+perfusion+fixation+for+rodents.">Whole animal perfusion fixation for rodents.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (65), (2012).</li><li>Kilkenny, C., Browne, W. J., Cuthill, I. C., Emerson, M., Altman, D. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Improving+bioscience+research+reporting:+the+ARRIVE+guidelines+for+reporting+animal+research.">Improving bioscience research reporting: the ARRIVE guidelines for reporting animal research.</a> PLoS Biology. 8 (6), e1000412 (2010).</li><li>Kennedy, H. S., Puth, F., Van Hoy, M., Le Pichon, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+method+for+removing+the+brain+and+spinal+cord+as+one+unit+from+adult+mice+and+rats.">A method for removing the brain and spinal cord as one unit from adult mice and rats.</a> Lab Animal (NY). 40 (2), 53-57 (2011).</li><li>Fischer, A. H., Jacobson, K. A., Rose, J., Zeller, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hematoxylin+and+eosin+staining+of+tissue+and+cell+sections.">Hematoxylin and eosin staining of tissue and cell sections.</a> CSH Protocols. 2008, (2008).</li><li>Ji, X., 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=The+Impact+of+Repeated+Freeze-Thaw+Cycles+on+the+Quality+of+Biomolecules+in+Four+Different+Tissues.">The Impact of Repeated Freeze-Thaw Cycles on the Quality of Biomolecules in Four Different Tissues.</a> Biopreservation and Biobanking. 15 (5), 475-483 (2017).</li><li>Pegg, D. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+history+and+principles+of+cryopreservation.">The history and principles of cryopreservation.</a> Seminars in Reproductive Medicine. 20 (1), 5-13 (2002).</li></ol>

It should be considered during this procedure that the temperature of the Megabrain and its surroundings must be constantly monitored to prevent thawing and re-freezing of the tissue. The brain can only be removed from the -20 &#176;C freezer up to 3 times as every time it is touched and left in the cryostat, with a warmer fluctuating temperature, the tissue thaws and refreezes, causing a jelly like texture and abnormal tissue integrity10. Therefore, it is optimal to cut the Megabrain all at once....

Here, we present the protocol for a novel method, which we call Megabrain, developed to cryosection multiple rodent brains simultaneously for downstream immunohistochemical procedures. A Megabrain allows for the production of single slides containing tissue from multiple animals. This technique has been optimized to cut coronal sections from 9 adult rat hemispheres, or 5 adult full brains, simultaneously. Therefore, the technique is most applicable in large immunohistochemical studies or other analyses done on slide-mounted brain tissue from a large cohort of animals.
Immunohistochemistry involves the use of specific antibodies directed against proteins of interest to understand and characterize their expression and cellular changes in specific tissue1,2,3. The use of immunohistochemistry is prevalent in neuroscience research, among other scientific disciplines, aiding in the cellular and molecular understanding of the brain4. Large-scale studies involving many animals and brain sections can be both resource and time intensive. As such, there is a multifaceted rationale behind the development of the Megabrain: to reduce time spent cryosectioning, mounting, and staining tissue, while consequently using less reagents. Moreover, the ability to streamline the process and stain multiple brains in the same round helps to alleviate some of the variability between staining batches, a limitation of immunohistochemistry3. In addition, sectioning a Megabrain is a time saving alternative to sectioning individual frozen rodent brains and allows for rapid comparison of tissue between animals or even treatment groups by microscopy techniques.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Andwin scientific tissue-tek CRYO-OCT compound (case of 12)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>14-373-65</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thermo Scientific Shandon Peel-A-Way Disposable Embedding Molds</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>18-41</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fisherbrand High Precision Straight Broad Strong Point Tweezers/Forceps</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>12-000-128</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fisherbrand 20mL HDPE Scintillation Vials with Polypropylene Cap</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>03-337-23</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sucrose, poly bottle 2.5 kg</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>S2-212</td>
			<td>Both 15% and 30% sucrose concentrations need to be made up.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2-Methylbutane (Certified), Fisher Chemical</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>O3551-4</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PYREX Tall-Form Beakers</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>02-546E</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fisherbrand General Purpose Liquid-in-Glass Partial Immersion Thermometers (-50&#176; to +50&#176;C)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>13-201-642</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fisherbrand&#160;Scoopula Spatula</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>14-357Q</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>STANLEY Razor Blade</td>
			<td>Grainger</td>
			<td>4A807</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Edge-Rite Microtome blades</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>14-070-60</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microscope slides (1&#34; frost) - white</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>22-034-979</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gibco&#160;PBS (Phosphate Buffered Saline) 10X, pH 7.2</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>70-013-032</td>
			<td>Dilute to 1X&#160; before use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>15 piece fine paint brushes</td>
			<td>Amazon</td>
			<td>B079J12ZRV</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PAP pen</td>
			<td>abcam</td>
			<td>ab2601</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Chuck Shown in Figure 4 was custom made by a lab technician, however similar sizes are available to order from other companies commercially.</td>
			<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
			<td>EMS065</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

simultaneous cryosectioning of multiple rodent brains

Histology and immunohistochemistry are routine methods of analysis to visualize microscopic anatomy and localize proteins within biological tissue. In neuroscience, as well as a plethora of other scientific fields, these techniques are used. Immunohistochemistry can be done on slide mounted tissue or free-floating sections. Preparing slide-mounted samples is a time intensive process. The following protocol for a technique, called the Megabrain, reduced the time taken to cryosection and mount brain tissue by up to 90% by combining multiple brains into a single frozen block. Furthermore, this technique reduced variability seen between staining rounds, in a large histochemical study. The current technique has been optimized for using rodent brain tissue in downstream immunohistochemical analyses; however, it can be applied to different scientific fields that use cryosectioning.

A positive end result to this procedure is tissue that lies flat on the slide, with no bubbles or tears, in the orientation in which they were frozen. Tissue sections are evenly spaced apart and easily identifiable due to good placement of the brain in the OCT and good notation as demonstrated in Figure 1. Assuming that the brain tissue was collected from animals of a similar age, and that the tissue was properly aligned in the OCT, sections collected on a sl...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Simultaneous Cryosectioning of Multiple Rodent Brains at JoVE.com

Simultaneous Cryosectioning of Multiple Rodent Brains

Here, we present a protocol to freeze and section brain tissue from multiple animals as a timesaving alternative to processing single brains. This reduces staining variability during immunohistochemistry and reduces time cryosectioning and imaging.

Histology and immunohistochemistry are routine methods of analysis to visualize microscopic anatomy and localize proteins within biological tissue. In ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

Simultaneous fMRI and Electrophysiology in the Rodent Brain

To examine the neural basis of the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal, we have developed a rodent model in ...

Ex vivo Culturing of Whole, Developing Drosophila Brains

Ex vivo Culturing of Whole, Developing Drosophila Brains

We describe a method for ex vivo culturing of whole Drosophila brains. This can be used as a counterpoint to chronic genetic manipulations for ...

Simultaneous Electroencephalography, Real-time Measurement of Lactate Concentration and Optogenetic Manipulation of Neuronal Activity in the Rodent Cerebral Cortex

Although the brain represents less than 5% of the body  by mass, it utilizes approximately one quarter of the glucose used by the body  at rest1. The ...

Simultaneous Electrophysiological Recording and Micro-injections of Inhibitory Agents in the Rodent Brain

Here we describe a method for the construction of a single-use &#8220;injectrode&#8221; using commercially accessible and affordable parts. A probing ...

Isolation, Culture and Long-Term Maintenance of Primary Mesencephalic Dopaminergic Neurons From Embryonic Rodent Brains

Degeneration of mesencephalic dopaminergic (mesDA) neurons is the pathological hallmark of Parkinson&#8217;s diseae. Study of the biological processes ...

Homochronic Transplantation of Interneuron Precursors into Early Postnatal Mouse Brains

Neuronal fate determination and maturation requires an intricate interplay between genetic programs and environmental signals. However, disentangling the ...

Metabolic Analysis of Drosophila melanogaster Larval and Adult Brains

Metabolic Analysis of Drosophila melanogaster Larval and Adult Brains

This protocol describes a method for measuring the metabolism in Drosophila melanogaster larval and adult brains. Quantifying metabolism in whole organs ...

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains

In a constantly aging population, the prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders is expected to rise. Understanding disease mechanisms is the key to find ...

Free-floating Immunostaining of Mouse Brains

Immunohistochemical staining of mouse brains is a routine technique commonly used in neuroscience to investigate central mechanisms underlying the ...

Automated Multimodal Stimulation and Simultaneous Neuronal Recording from Multiple Small Organisms

Fluorescent genetically encoded calcium indicators have contributed greatly to our understanding of neural dynamics from the level of individual neurons ...