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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Rapid Isolation of Dorsal Root Ganglion Macrophages
Published on: September 7, 2019
A Procedure for Mouse Dorsal Root Ganglion Cryosectioning
Liangliang He1, Wenxing Zhao2, Lingyi Zhang3
1Department of Pain Management, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University; Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California San Francisco.
Abstract:
High-quality mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cryostat sections are crucial for proper immunochemistry staining and RNAscope studies in the research of inflammatory and neuropathic pain, itch, as well as other peripheral neurological conditions. However, it remains a challenge to consistently obtain high-quality, intact, and flat cryostat sections onto glass slides because of the tiny sample size of the DRG tissue. So far, there is no article describing an optimal protocol for DRG cryosectioning. This protocol presents a step-by-step method to resolve the frequently encountered difficulties associated with DRG cryosectioning. The presented article explains how to remove the surrounding liquid from the DRG tissue samples, place the DRG sections on the slide facing the same orientation, and flatten the sections on the glass slide without curving up. Although this protocol has been developed for cryosectioning the DRG samples, it can be applied for the cryosectioning of many other tissues with a small sample size.
Insights
Obtaining high-quality dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cryostat sections for pain and neurological research is challenging. This protocol provides a step-by-step method to consistently achieve intact, flat DRG sections on slides.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Histology
- Pain Research
Background:
- High-quality mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cryostat sections are essential for immunochemistry and RNAscope studies.
- Challenges exist in obtaining intact, flat sections from small DRG samples.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present an optimal, step-by-step protocol for cryosectioning mouse DRG tissue.
- To address common difficulties in DRG cryosectioning for improved research.
Main Methods:
- A detailed protocol for preparing and sectioning DRG tissue.
- Techniques for removing excess liquid, orienting sections, and flattening them on slides.
Main Results:
- Successfully developed a method to consistently obtain high-quality, intact, and flat DRG cryostat sections.
- The protocol effectively resolves common issues encountered during DRG cryosectioning.
Conclusions:
- This protocol offers a reliable solution for cryosectioning small DRG samples.
- The method is adaptable for cryosectioning other small tissue types.
