Mar 20, 2024

Preparation of Free Floating Coronal Mouse Brain Sections

DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.dm6gp3pb8vzp/v1
  • 1Van Andel Institute
  • Team Lee
Jane Balster
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DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.dm6gp3pb8vzp/v1
Protocol Citation: madalynn.erb 2024. Preparation of Free Floating Coronal Mouse Brain Sections. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.dm6gp3pb8vzp/v1
License: This is an open access  protocol  distributed under the terms of the  Creative Commons Attribution License,  which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: February 09, 2024
Last Modified: May 31, 2024
Protocol  Integer ID: 95137
Keywords: ASAPCRN, floating coronal mouse brain section, coronal mouse brain sections this protocol, coronal mouse brain section, mouse brain, mouse, preparation of free, preparation
Disclaimer
The protocols.io team notes that research involving animals and humans must be conducted according to internationally-accepted standards and should always have prior approval from an Institutional Ethics Committee or Board.
Abstract
This protocol details the preparation of free floating coronal mouse brain sections.
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Materials
Materials:

Cryoprotectant solution
AB
Phosphate buffer0.1 M
Sucrose30%
Ethylene Glycol30%

Collect Mouse Brain Tissue
2d
Deeply anesthetize mice via intraperitoneal injection of 2X Avertin solution.
Perform transcardial perfusion using chilled saline solution
Keep 0.9% NaCl On ice .
Use approximately 60 mL saline solution per mouse.
Switch from saline solution to chilled PFA.
4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 Mass Percent phosphate buffer (PB) 7.4 .
Use approximately 60 mL PFA per mouse.
Remove brain immediately after PFA perfusion.
Incubate brain in PFA for 24:00:00 at 4 °C .
1d
Transfer brains to 30% Sucrose / 0.1 Mass Percent Phosphate Buffer (PB) – keep at 4 °C for ≥ 24:00:00 .
1d
Tissue should be completely saturated with sucrose before sectioning.
Brains will sink to the bottom of the vial when saturated.
Section Tissue
Use a Leica SM2010R Microtome.
Blade: Leica 16cm, knife angle set at 0 degree.
Cut thickness: 35 µm .
Adjust the microtome platform so that it is level with the blade and lock it into place.
Chill the microtome platform by covering it with crushed dry ice.
Apply 5-10 drops of 30% Sucrose / 0.1 Mass Percent Phosphate Buffer (PB) solution to the chilled microtome platform and wait for it to solidify.
Use the microtome to gently shave the solidified sucrose to make a flat surface.
Use a razor blade to remove any spinal cord from the brain making a flat surface perpendicular to the rostral / caudal axis.
Apply 2-3 drops of sucrose to the existing sucrose platform and quickly position the brain with the olfactory bulbs pointing upwards.
Apply 2-3 more drops of sucrose to the top of the brain to securely freeze it to the microtome platform.
Gently cover the brain in crushed dry ice to freeze the tissue.
Adjust the microtome platform so that the rostral / caudal axis is perpendicular to the blade and the dorsal / ventral axis is level with the blade.
Collect sections in a 24-well plate prefilled with cryoprotectant solution (0.1 Mass Percent PB +30% Sucrose + 30% Ethylene Glycol).

Cryoprotectant solution
AB
Phosphate Buffer0.1 M
Sucrose30%
Ethylene Glycol30%

Seal plate with parafilm and store tissue at -20 °C .