Acute Slice Preparation
Acute Slice Preparation - Related Videos
09:10
Preparation of Acute Subventricular Zone Slices for Calcium Imaging
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Cited by 2 •
2012
A method to load subventricular zone (SVZ) cells with calcium indicator dyes for recording calcium activity is described. The postnatal SVZ contains tightly packed cells including neural progenitor cells and neuroblasts. Rather than using bath loading we injected the dye by pressure inside the tissue allowing better dye diffusion.
09:31
Imaging Pheromone Sensing in a Mouse Vomeronasal Acute Tissue Slice Preparation
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Cited by 15 •
2011
In mice, the ability to detect pheromones is principally mediated by the vomeronasal organ (VNO). Here, an acute tissue slice preparation of VNO for performing calcium imaging is described. This physiological approach allows observations of subpopulations and/or individual neurons in a living tissue and is convenient for receptor-ligand identification.
07:31
Preparation of Acute Human Hippocampal Slices for Electrophysiological Recordings
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Cited by 6 •
2020
The presented protocol describes the transport and preparation of resected human hippocampal tissue with the ultimate goal to use vital brain slices as a preclinical evaluation tool for potential antiepileptic substances.
14:57
Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology
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Cited by 62 •
2011
This article outlines procedures for preparing hippocampal slices from rats and transgenic mice for the study of synaptic alterations associated with brain aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
10:29
Whole Cell Recording from an Organotypic Slice Preparation of Neocortex
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Cited by 6 •
2011
This is a protocol to prepare and maintain a neocortical slice preparation in organotypic culture for the purpose of making electrical recordings from pyramidal neurons.
FAQs
Rapid cooling helps limit tissue damage after the brain or spinal cord is isolated, while oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid supports the freshly cut tissue during handling and slicing. Using both conditions helps maintain viable neurons, synapses, and glial cells, which is essential for reliable short-term measurements of neural activity and circuit function.
A vibratome produces thin sections from freshly isolated nervous tissue while retaining much of the local cellular organization. This preservation allows neurons, synapses, and glial cells to remain positioned within nearby circuitry rather than being studied only as separated cells. Consequently, researchers can examine local circuit interactions under controlled laboratory conditions.
The most important supported conditions are rapid tissue removal, cooling, oxygenation, and careful vibratome sectioning. Together, these steps are intended to limit damage and maintain tissue viability. If the preparation does not preserve enough cellular organization or viable cells, subsequent electrophysiology, fluorescence imaging, pharmacological manipulation, and circuit analysis become less informative.
The workflow begins with rapid removal of the brain or spinal cord, followed by cooling of the tissue. The isolated tissue is then cut with a vibratome while immersed in ice-cold, oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid. The resulting thin sections are used for short-term experiments that require access to preserved neural cells and local circuitry.
Acute slices provide experimental access for electrophysiology, fluorescence imaging, pharmacological manipulation, and circuit analysis. These approaches can be used to study synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity while the tissue retains much of its native organization. The controlled environment also makes it possible to examine how neural cells and local circuits respond to targeted interventions.
The preparation preserves local relationships among neurons, synapses, and glial cells while giving researchers controlled access to the tissue. This combination supports comparisons of synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, plasticity, and circuit behavior in disease-related conditions. Because the slices remain suitable for short-term laboratory study, investigators can pair structural access with physiological or pharmacological analysis.