title: Neuronal type-specific gene expression profiling and laser-capture microdissection.
abstract: The human brain is an exceptionally heterogeneous structure. In order to gain insight into the neurobiological basis of neural circuit disturbances in various neurologic or psychiatric diseases, it is often important to define the molecular cascades that are associated with these disturbances in a neuronal type-specific manner. This can be achieved by the use of laser microdissection, in combination with molecular techniques such as gene expression profiling. To identify neurons in human postmortem brain tissue, one can use the inherent properties of the neuron, such as pigmentation and morphology or its structural composition through immunohistochemistry (IHC). Here, we describe the isolation of homogeneous neuronal cells and high-quality RNA from human postmortem brain material using a combination of rapid IHC, Nissl staining, or simple morphology with Laser-Capture Microdissection (LCM) or Laser Microdissection (LMD).
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Neuropathology, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Charmaine Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Pietersen
authors.forename: Maribel P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Macey
authors.forename: Tsung-Ung W
authors.initials: TU
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Kai C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Sonntag
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D042282:Microdissection / Q000379:methods*; D008867:Microtomy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009562:Nissl Bodies / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D012313:RNA; D004298:Dopamine