High-refractive index of acrylate embedding resin clarifies mouse brain tissue

J Biomed Opt. 2017 Nov;22(11):1-4. doi: 10.1117/1.JBO.22.11.110503.

Abstract

Biological tissue transparency combined with light-sheet fluorescence microscopy is a useful method for studying the neural structure of biological tissues. The development of light-sheet fluorescence microscopy also promotes progress in biological tissue clearing methods. The current clarifying methods mostly use liquid reagent to denature protein or remove lipids first, to eliminate or reduce the scattering index or refractive index of the biological tissue. However, denaturing protein and removing lipids require complex procedures or an extended time period. Therefore, here we have developed acrylate resin with a high refractive index, which causes clearing of biological tissue directly after polymerization. This method can improve endogenous fluorescence retention by adjusting the pH value of the resin monomer.

Keywords: embedding resin; endogenous fluorescence; refractive index; tissue clearing.

MeSH terms

  • Acrylates
  • Acrylic Resins / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Histological Techniques / instrumentation
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Refractometry

Substances

  • Acrylates
  • Acrylic Resins