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Fluid preservation in brain banking: a review.
Andrew T McKenzie1, Oge Nnadi2, Kat D Slagell3,4,5
1Apex Neuroscience, Salem, Oregon, USA.
Free Neuropathology
|May 1, 2024
Summary
Fluid preservation maintains neural architecture for decades, but long-term storage can decrease antigenicity. Optimizing protocols and using alternative storage fluids are key for brain banking research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Histology
Background:
- Fluid preservation is standard for brain banking, but its long-term effects on neural tissue are not fully understood.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for ensuring the integrity of stored brain specimens for future research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize existing literature on the effects of long-term fluid preservation on neural tissue.
- To identify common alterations and biochemical mechanisms associated with fluid preservation of brain specimens.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed and other databases.
- Categorization of studies based on preservative type (formaldehyde, buffer, alcohol, etc.).
- Analysis of 197 independent observations on cellular morphology and biomolecule integrity.
Main Results:
- Most studies found no significant alterations from long-term storage.
- Decreased antigenicity was the most frequent issue, linked to aldehyde crosslinking.
- Lipid alteration or extraction occurred over time; alternative fluids may mitigate but require characterization.
Conclusions:
- Fluid preservation generally maintains neural architecture for decades.
- Overfixation can be avoided by using an initial fixation followed by an alternative storage fluid.
- Further research is needed to optimize protocols and understand storage artifacts.
