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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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