brain slicing

Brain Slicing

Advantages

• Precise control over experimental conditions

• Mechanical stability (heartbeat, respiration)

• No blood brain barrier• Easy access of cell location and

identification

Disadvantages

• Lack of inputs and outputs of normal brain

• The slicing process can damage the tissue

• Gets “older” faster• Artificial bathing solution is not

precise

Usage• Study of synaptic activity• Voltage clamp• Iontophoresis• Long term potentiation, adaptation and

kindling

Main steps

1. Chill and oxygenate the sucrose-aCSF (artificial Cerebro-Spinal Fluid)

2. Prepare for brain removal3. Brain removal4. Slice preparation5. Clean up of the workbench

Preparation

• Crush dry ice into powder and put in tray

Rinse beaker

• With distilled water and aCSF

Put beaker in ice tray

• Add water, fill beaker with aCSF

Place air-stone bubblers in beakers

Put in net suspension device

Prepare dissection tray

• Rongeur, scissors, scalpel

Prepare dissection tray

• Filter papers, wipes, super glue

Fill cylinder with 3ml isoflurane

Anesthetization container

Anesthetize the rat

Weigh the rat

• Weighing dish

Decapitate mouse head

• And remove the remaining body

Remove excess blood and tissue

• Dip in petri dish with aCSF

Use a scalpel to cut the scalp

• Use spatula to remove the brain

Put super glue on pedestal

• Then drop the brain

Put slicing pedestal on slicer