What is a slice in the brain?

Definition. Brain slices are ex vivo preparations obtained by serial sectioning of brain tissue, typically from rats or mice. Acute brain slices are kept vital in vitro for time periods between four and, sometimes, more than twenty-four hours and contain a functional brain cell micro-circuitry in situ.

How long do brain slices last?

Normally, the lifespan of a brain slice, from either a rat or a mouse, is limited to 6–12 hours. Moreover, it has been shown that the vast majority of the cells in hippocampal and neocortical thin slices can only be maintained in a healthy state for about 4 hours12.

How do you cut brain slices?

In general, to prepare acute brain slices, a whole-brain is dissected out from an animal and quickly immersed into ice-cold (<4°C) cutting solution to slow down the metabolic activity in tissue blocks, which are sliced by a microtome at ice-cold temperature (CT).

Can brain slices be grown in culture?

Brain slices (1–3 per well depending on size) are cultured in 6-well plates (Greiner) at 37 °C and 5% CO2 and are incubated for minimum two weeks with the medium changed once or twice per week. Slices are usually cultured with or without growth factors to support survival of specific neurons.

What is slice technique?

Put simply, slice cutting is a quick hair cutting technique that allows you to break up solid shapes and remove weight from the hair. It adds volume, texture and movement without compromising the length of the hair.

How do you get rid of mouse brain?

Using a surgical blade, make a cut across on the skull, one along the sagittal suture ( Fig. 1D) and one along the interparietal bone (between the cerebral cortex and cerebellum). c. Use fine scissors to puncture the junction between the olfactory bulb and cortex, not so deep as to avoid damaging the brain (Fig.

How long is Cryoprotectant good for?

It is best to keep them in cryo in the -20 however and they will last indefinitely. I have used some stored this way for 10 + years with no problems.

How do you oxygenate ACSF?

Bring to a volume of 2 L with distilled H2O. Using an aquarium bubbler and tubing attached to a 95% O2/5% CO2 air tank, oxygenate ACSF vigorously for approximately 20-30 min.

What is organotypic?

Organotypic culture is defined as the culture of an organ collected from an organism. It is one method allowing the culture of complex tissues or organs. It allows the preservation of the architecture of the cultured organ and most of its cellular interactions.

What is slice culture?

Slice cultures maintain a three-dimensional organisation with the preservation of cytoarchitecture and cell populations, and are an accessible system lending their application to electrophysiology, morphology and biochemical analyses 3– 5.

What part of the brain is behind the eyes?

The occipital lobe is the back part of the brain that is involved with vision.