title: Basic neuroanatomical methods.
abstract: This unit covers some of the basic procedures that are common to a wide range of neuroanatomical protocols. Procedures are provided for the preparation of unfixed, fresh brain tissue as well as for perfusion fixation of animals resulting in fixed neural tissue. A variety of methods for sectioning brains are described, including frozen sectioning in a cryostat, frozen sectioning with a microtome, and sectioning with a vibratome. The choice of sectioning method depends on how the brain has been prepared and what histochemical method is to be used. Three post-sectioning procedures are provided: defatting of slide-mounted sections, thionin staining of the sections, and coating of slides with photographic emulsion for autoradiography. Finally, a procedure is described for subbing slides with gelatin, which is necessary in some protocols in order for the sections to adhere to the slides.
authors.affiliation: National Institutes of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gerfen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods; D005629:Frozen Sections / Q000379:methods; D016591:Histocytological Preparation Techniques; D009445:Neuroanatomy / Q000379:methods*; D010477:Perfusion / Q000379:methods; D010640:Phenothiazines; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D010640:Phenothiazines; C009469:thionine