Ultramicroscopy: three-dimensional visualization of neuronal networks in the whole mouse brain (original) (raw)
- Article
- Published: 25 March 2007
- Ulrich Leischner1,
- Anja Schierloh1,
- Nina Jährling1 nAff3,
- Christoph Peter Mauch1,
- Katrin Deininger2,
- Jan Michael Deussing1,
- Matthias Eder1,
- Walter Zieglgänsberger1 &
- …
- Klaus Becker1 nAff3
Nature Methods volume 4, pages 331–336 (2007)Cite this article
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Abstract
Visualizing entire neuronal networks for analysis in the intact brain has been impossible up to now. Techniques like computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) do not yield cellular resolution, and mechanical slicing procedures are insufficient to achieve high-resolution reconstructions in three dimensions. Here we present an approach that allows imaging of whole fixed mouse brains. We modified 'ultramicroscopy' by combining it with a special procedure to clear tissue. We show that this new technique allows optical sectioning of fixed mouse brains with cellular resolution and can be used to detect single GFP-labeled neurons in excised mouse hippocampi. We obtained three-dimensional (3D) images of dendritic trees and spines of populations of CA1 neurons in isolated hippocampi. Also in fruit flies and in mouse embryos, we were able to visualize details of the anatomy by imaging autofluorescence. Our method is ideally suited for high-throughput phenotype screening of transgenic mice and thus will benefit the investigation of disease models.
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Acknowledgements
We thank G. Ryseck for help with initial experiments and S. Espinoza, L. Luo, E. Kramer and C. Wotjak for specimens. This work was supported by grants of the Hertie foundation and the SFB391.
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- Hans-Ulrich Dodt, Nina Jährling & Klaus Becker
Present address: Present address: Department of Bioelectronics, Institute of Solid State Electronics, Vienna University of Technology, Floragasse 7, 1040 Vienna, Austria.,
Authors and Affiliations
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2, Munich, 80804, Germany
Hans-Ulrich Dodt, Ulrich Leischner, Anja Schierloh, Nina Jährling, Christoph Peter Mauch, Jan Michael Deussing, Matthias Eder, Walter Zieglgänsberger & Klaus Becker - Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Am Klopferspitz 18, Martinsried, 82152, Germany
Katrin Deininger
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Correspondence toHans-Ulrich Dodt.
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Dodt, HU., Leischner, U., Schierloh, A. et al. Ultramicroscopy: three-dimensional visualization of neuronal networks in the whole mouse brain.Nat Methods 4, 331–336 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth1036
- Received: 22 December 2006
- Accepted: 28 February 2007
- Published: 25 March 2007
- Issue Date: April 2007
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth1036