Protocol for optical, aqueous-based clearing of murine tissues using EZ Clear
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Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Optical Clearing of the Mouse Central Nervous System Using Passive CLARITY
Published on: June 30, 2016
Taeyong Ahn1, Gabrielle E Largoza1, Julia Younis2
1Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.
Abstract:
Tissue clearing is an essential prerequisite for 3D volumetric imaging of larger tissues or organs. Here, we present a detailed protocol for optical, aqueous-based clearing of adult murine tissues using EZ Clear. We describe steps to ensure successful perfusion and fixation of organs from the adult mouse and supply guidelines for optimal lipid removal, refractive index matching, and tissue clearing. Finally, we provide imaging parameters for visualizing both exogenous perfused fluorescent dyes and endogenous fluorescence reporters in the adult mouse. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Hsu et al.1.

