Brain banks and research in neurochemistry

The increasing demand to brain banks for specimens that are properly prepared for research in neurochemistry has stimulated interest in the drawing up of suitable protocols. The purpose of this chapter is twofold: (1) to describe the various strategies that are currently applied in different brain banks and (2) to point out the main neurochemical requirements in order to reach a consensus with the brain bank about the more suitable protocol in each case. In recent years, some brain banks have acquired the necessary equipment and now have access to neurochemical expertise. Their experience will be very helpful in defining the new procedures to be used at each stage of brain tissue banking and will permit the development of research projects in this discipline.