Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Neuron Structure01:30

Neuron Structure

13.1K
Neurons are the main type of cell in the nervous system that generate and transmit electrochemical signals. They primarily communicate with each other using neurotransmitters at specific junctions called synapses. Neurons come in many shapes that often relate to their function, but most share three main structures: an axon and dendrites that extend out from a cell body.
Structure and Function of Neurons
The neuronal cell body—the soma— houses the nucleus and organelles vital to...
13.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Multisite Mobile Addiction Services: Four-Year Outcomes.

International journal of environmental research and public health·2026
Same author

Emerging directions in tauopathy research.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2026
Same author

Validity of the NINDS traumatic encephalopathy syndrome criteria for predicting chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2026
Same author

A new AI assisted approach aligns data standards and accelerates interoperability in biomedical research.

NPJ digital medicine·2026
Same authorSame journal

Brain extraction for fixed tissue banking: a technical report.

Free neuropathology·2026
Same author

Comorbid neuropathologies but not Braak stage influence cognitive impairment in primary age-related tauopathy.

Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology·2026
Same journal

Alzheimer's disease in the <i>Plasticene</i> era: a clinicopathological update on the dual sequestration of amyloid and tau as hijacked innate immune responses.

Free neuropathology·2026
Same journal

An integrated multiscale imaging workflow to resolve intracellular co-pathology in human FFPE brain tissue.

Free neuropathology·2026
Same journal

Unclassifiable senile plaques and extensive cerebral amyloid angiopathy involving spinal and bridging vessels in autopsied patients with Down syndrome.

Free neuropathology·2026
Same journal

Forensic neuropathology: 2026 update.

Free neuropathology·2026
Same journal

Mass spectrometry imaging-based explainable machine learning reveals the biochemical landscapes of the mouse brain.

Free neuropathology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 25, 2025

3D Modeling of the Lateral Ventricles and Histological Characterization of Periventricular Tissue in Humans and Mouse
15:26

3D Modeling of the Lateral Ventricles and Histological Characterization of Periventricular Tissue in Humans and Mouse

Published on: May 19, 2015

14.2K

Postmortem changes in brain cell structure: a review.

Margaret M Krassner1,2,3, Justin Kauffman1,2,3, Allison Sowa4

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.

Free Neuropathology
|June 29, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Postmortem interval (PMI) significantly alters brain cell structure and morphometry. Understanding these changes is crucial for reliable research using autopsy brain tissue.

Keywords:
AutolysisBrain mappingOncotic necrosisPostmortem changesSpecies differencesStaining methods

More Related Videos

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans
08:29

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Published on: December 18, 2016

14.1K
Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains
12:28

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains

Published on: June 3, 2020

17.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 25, 2025

3D Modeling of the Lateral Ventricles and Histological Characterization of Periventricular Tissue in Humans and Mouse
15:26

3D Modeling of the Lateral Ventricles and Histological Characterization of Periventricular Tissue in Humans and Mouse

Published on: May 19, 2015

14.2K
Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans
08:29

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Published on: December 18, 2016

14.1K
Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains
12:28

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains

Published on: June 3, 2020

17.4K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Brain cell structure is vital for neural function and is often altered in neurological disorders.
  • The postmortem interval (PMI) begins after blood flow cessation, leading to rapid cellular energy depletion and decomposition.
  • Studying autopsy brain tissue requires understanding how PMI affects cell morphometry for robust and reproducible methods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and delineate the expected changes in brain cell morphometry during the postmortem interval (PMI).
  • To provide insights for researchers using human postmortem brain tissue.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic literature search was conducted across multiple databases.
  • 2119 abstracts and 361 full-text articles were screened.
  • 172 studies were included in the review.

Main Results:

  • Early PMI events include fluid shifts causing cell volume changes and vacuolization.
  • Cell membrane visualization loss occurs later in the PMI.
  • Decomposition rates vary based on visualization methods, structural features, storage temperature, and species.
  • Cell membrane deformations occur within minutes, while topological relationships persist longer.
  • Progressive cell membrane loss occurs over an uncertain period, typically hours to days.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular changes during the PMI are complex and variable.
  • Understanding PMI-induced morphometric alterations is essential for interpreting results from postmortem brain studies.
  • This review aids researchers in navigating the challenges of using postmortem brain tissue.