Brain donation at autopsy: clinical characterization and toxicologic analyses

Area of Science:

• Neurobiology
• Neuropathology
• Psychiatric Disorders

Background:

• Postmortem human brain tissue is critical for studying neurobiologic aspects of psychiatric and neurologic illnesses.
• Research demands high-quality brain specimens, including those from nonpsychiatric controls, often sourced from brain banks.
• The Human Brain and Tissue Repository at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development exemplifies effective tissue acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elaborate on the necessity and methods for acquiring well-curated postmortem human brains for research.
• To highlight the advantages of obtaining specimens from medical examiner offices for comprehensive case access.
• To emphasize the irreplaceable value of human brain tissue in studying brain diseases.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing experience from the Human Brain and Tissue Repository for acquisition strategies.
• Leveraging medical examiner offices for access to diverse cases (all ages, with/without CNS disorders).
• Integrating neuropathology, toxicology, autopsy reports, and clinical interviews for accurate case diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Established protocols for acquiring and curating high-quality postmortem human brain specimens.
• Demonstrated the value of medical examiner offices as a primary source for research-grade brain tissue.
• Confirmed the critical role of comprehensive diagnostic data (neuropathology, toxicology, clinical history) for case utility.

Conclusions:

• High-quality postmortem human brain tissue is indispensable for advancing the study of psychiatric and neurologic disorders.
• Collaborations with medical examiner offices significantly enhance the availability of diverse and well-characterized brain specimens.
• Rigorous diagnostic evaluation, including neuropathology and toxicology, is paramount for ensuring the scientific validity of postmortem brain research.