Excitotoxic Stimulation of Brain Microslices as an In vitro Model of Stroke

Summary

We have developed a brain slice model which can be used to examine molecular mechanisms involved in excitotoxicity-mediated brain injury. This technique generates viable mature brain tissue and reduces animal numbers required for experimentation, whilst keeping the neuronal circuitry, cellular interactions, and postsynaptic compartments partly intact.

Abstract

Examining molecular mechanisms involved in neuropathological conditions, such as ischemic stroke, can be difficult when using whole animal systems. As such, primary or 'neuronal-like' cell culture systems are commonly utilized. While these systems are relatively easy to work with, and are useful model systems in which various functional outcomes (such as cell death) can be readily quantified, the examined outcomes and pathways in cultured immature neurons (such as excitotoxicity-mediated cell death pathways) are not necessarily the same as those observed in mature brain, or in intact tissue. Therefore, there is the need to develop models in which cellular mechanisms in mature neural tissue can be examined. We have developed an in vitro technique that can be used to investigate a variety of molecular pathways in intact nervous tissue. The technique described herein utilizes rat cortical tissue, but this technique can be adapted to use tissue from a variety of species (such as mouse, rabbit, guinea pig, and chicken) or brain regions (for example, hippocampus, striatum, etc.). Additionally, a variety of stimulations/treatments can be used (for example, excitotoxic, administration of inhibitors, etc.). In conclusion, the brain slice model described herein can be used to examine a variety of molecular mechanisms involved in excitotoxicity-mediated brain injury.

Introduction

The most common form of stroke is ischemic stroke, which occurs when a cerebral blood vessel becomes occluded. The tissue ischemia which results from cessation of blood flow causes widespread depolarization of membranes, release of excitatory neurotransmitters, and sustained elevation of intracellular calcium, which leads to the activation of cell death pathways ¹. This process has been termed 'excitotoxicity', and is a common pathway involved in neuronal death produced by a variety of pathologies, including stroke ². Inhibition of the signaling pathways involved in excitotoxicity and other neuronal cell death cascades is an appealing app....

Protocol

All procedures are performed with approval from the University of Newcastle Animal Care and Ethics Committee, as well as in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations, including the NSW Animal Research Act, the NSW Animal Research Regulation, and the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes.

1. Dissection of Brain Tissue

1. Sacrifice twelve week old male rats by decapitation. Rats can either be sacrificed by stunning and decapitation, or can be first anesthetized with isoflurane (5% induction, 1.5-2% maintenance) in 70% N₂ and 30% O₂, and then decapitated....

Results

Microslices generated using this procedure are viable, and a variety of species (for example, rat, mouse, and chicken) can be used to produce microslices. Three independent measures of viability have been utilized: respiration rate (Figure 1), adenine nucleotide ratios (Figure 2), and tissue potassium content (Figure 3). Using these measures, it has been demonstrated that microslices remain viable for at least 2 hr post-generation.

Brain micro.......

Discussion

Herein, an in vitro technique for the generation of microslices that can be used to examine the molecular mechanisms involved in excitotoxicity and ischemia-mediated cell death in intact mature brain tissue is described. This technique produces viable tissue (Figures 1-3), that is metabolically similar to larger organotypic slices¹⁵. Furthermore, this microslice model closely corresponds to the response observed following excitotoxicity mediated brain injuries in vivo^10<.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Guillotine			Used to decapitate animal
Surgical equipment			Forceps, scissors, tweezers, etc., for brain removal and dissection
McIlwain chopper	McIlwain choppers are manufactured/distributed by a range of companies including Mickle Engineering, Harvard Apparatus, Campden Instruments and Ted Pella.		Used to generate 100-400 µm brain sections.
Round bottom plastic tubes	Greiner
Water bath			For keeping tissue at 37 °C
Humidifier/aerating apparatus			Used to keep microslices in a humidified, oxygenated environment
Flat bottomed polystyrene tubes	Nunc
Dounce Homogenizer