To
study the fine structure of the brain including its connections between
neurons and the synapses, scientists generally use electron
microscopes. However, the brain tissue must first be fixed to prepare it
for this high magnification imaging method. This process causes the
brain to shrink and as a result, microscope images can be
distorted showing neurons to be much closer than they actually are.
Researchers
now solved the problem by using a technique that rapidly freezes the
brain, preserving its true structure. The innovative method called
"cryofixation" to prevent brain shrinkage during the preparation for
electron microscopy. The method uses jets of liquid nitrogen to
"snap-freeze" brain tissue down to -90 degrees celsius within
milliseconds. The brain tissue here was mouse cerebral cortex. "The
high-pressure 'cryofixation' is a very attractive method for brain
imaging.
Source: Graham Knott, Natalya Korogod and Carl Petersen, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne
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