A Method for the Isolation of Neurovascular Units from Rat Brain

Abstract

Source: Brzica, H., et al,. A simple and reproducible method to prepare membrane samples from freshly isolated rat brain microvessels. J. Vis. Exp. (2018).

This video demonstrates the process of isolating brain microvessels from euthanized rats. It includes the dissection of the brain, cleaning of the tissue, and mechanical digestion, followed by repeated centrifugation to isolate the pure fraction of microvessels.

Protocol

All procedures involving sample collection have been performed in accordance with the institute's IRB guidelines. The procedural flow for the protocol is depicted in Figure 1.

1. Set-up for the Procedure

1. Prepare the brain microvessel buffer (BMB). Start by weighing 54.66 g D-mannitol, 1.90 g EGTA (Ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid), and 1.46 g 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol (i.e., Tris) base into a clean beaker. Add 1.0 L of deionized water. Mix the components of the BMB buffer using a magnetic stirrer. Once the solution has been thoroughly ....

Results

Figure 1: Outline of procedures and protocols to isolate rat brain microvessels and to prepare membrane samples

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Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Protease Inhibitor Cocktail	Sigma-Aldrich	#P8340	Component of brain microvessel buffer
D-mannitol	Sigma-Aldrich	#M4125	Component of brain microvessel buffer
EGTA	Sigma-Aldrich	#E3889	Component of brain microvessel buffer
Trizma Base	Sigma-Aldrich	#T1503	Component of brain microvessel buffer
Dextran (MW 75,000)	Spectrum Chemical Mftg Corp	#DE125	Dextran used in centrifugation steps to separate microvessels from brain parenchyma
Zetamine	MWI Animal Health	#501072	General anesthetic
Xylazine	Western Medical Supply	#5530	General anesthetic
0.9% saline solution	Western Medical Supply	N/A	General anesthetic diluent
Filter Paper (12.5 cm diameter)	VWR	#28320-100	Used for removal of meninges from brain tissue
Centrifuge Tubes	Sarstedt	#60.540.386	Disposable tubes used for dextran centrifugation steps
Pierce™ Coomassie Plus (Bradford) Assay	ThermoFisher Scientific	#23236	Measurement of protein concentration in membrane preparations
Wheaton Overhead Power Homogenizer	DWK Life Sciences	#903475	Required for homogenization of samples
10.0ml glass mortar and pestle tissue grinder	DWK Life Sciences	#358039	Required for homogenization of samples
Hydrochloric Acid	Sigma-Aldrich	#H1758	Required for pH adjustment of buffers
Standard Forceps	Fine Science Tools	#91100-12	Used for dissection of brain tissue
Friedman-Pearson Rongeurs	Fine Science Tools	#16020-14	Used for opening skull to isolate brain
50 ml conical centrifuge tubes	ThermoFisher Scientific	#352070	Used for collection of brain tissue following isolation
Glass Pasteur Pipets	ThermoFisher Scientific	#13-678-20C	Used for aspiration of cellular debris following dextran spins
Ethanol, anhydrous	Sigma-Aldrich	#459836	Used for cleaning tissue grinder; diluted to 70% with distilled water
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