Commentary: the acquisition and use of human brain tissue in neuropsychiatric research

Witelson and McCulloch (1991) report on the establishment of a collection of normal human brain tissue that was secured through a unique method of premortem and postmortem assessments. Their work highlights the growing need in neuro-scientific research for carefully characterized collections of human brain tissue from both normal control subjects and patients with specific neuropsychiatric disorders. Brain tissue of this type, however, has not been readily available. Patients with mental disorders may not be competent to consent to a postmortem brain donation; other obstacles include various socioeconomic and legal impediments to autopsies. In addition, a number of methodologic issues exist regarding human brain tissue collections, including the problem of standardized postmortem diagnostic assessment and difficulty in establishing uniform procedures for processing formalin-fixed and frozen tissue. Various proposals to enhance brain-tissue collections are discussed. These include the establishment of networks for tissue donation and use, the linking of ultimate postmortem brain tissue collection to prospective clinical studies, and promulgation of standardized procedures for methods of postmortem diagnosis and tissue handling.