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Preservatives for postmortem brain tissue in biomechanical testing: A pilot study
Ann Mallory1,2, Alaine Wetli3, Lucas M Neuroth4
1National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Vehicle Research and Test Center, Applied Biomechanics Division, East Liberty, Ohio, USA.
Journal of Anatomy
|July 16, 2024
Summary
This study investigated preservatives for postmortem human subject (PMHS) brain tissue. Sodium bicarbonate showed promise in reducing tissue breakdown during biomechanical testing, maintaining tissue properties for injury research.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanical Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Forensic Science
Background:
- Postmortem human subject (PMHS) studies are crucial for understanding brain injury mechanisms in motor vehicle accidents.
- Postmortem tissue degradation compromises the accuracy of biomechanical testing, limiting its relevance to in vivo conditions.
- Developing effective preservation methods is essential to maintain the integrity of brain tissue for research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of different preservative solutions in mitigating postmortem brain tissue degradation.
- To identify potential preservatives that can maintain the mechanical properties of brain tissue for biomechanical analysis.
- To inform future research on improving the reliability of PMHS data in brain injury studies.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative assessment of tissue breakdown in brain samples stored in various artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) solutions at 10°C.
- Compressive stiffness testing of brain tissue samples immediately after harvest and after 24-hour storage in different ACSF solutions.
- Statistical analysis using multiple linear regression to compare tissue stiffness based on storage solution and harvest location.
Main Results:
- Samples stored in ACSF with both antibiotics/antifungals and sodium bicarbonate exhibited less qualitative tissue breakdown.
- Brain tissue stored for 24 hours in ACSF or ACSF with antibiotics/antifungals showed significantly reduced stiffness compared to fresh samples.
- Tissue stored in ACSF solutions containing sodium bicarbonate maintained stiffness comparable to immediately harvested samples.
- No significant difference in stiffness was found between frontal and parietal lobe samples.
Conclusions:
- Sodium bicarbonate shows potential as a preservative to reduce postmortem brain tissue deterioration during biomechanical testing.
- Preserving brain tissue properties is vital for enhancing the understanding of brain injury mechanisms and head injury tolerance.
- Further research is warranted to evaluate sodium bicarbonate's effectiveness under varied conditions and in whole-head testing.
