A group of neuroscientists at the Institute of Physico-Chemical Research (RIKEN) in Japan created a sugar fluid that makes biological tissue transparent. A fructose aqueous solution called SeeDB has been successfully tested in mice.
Scientists made the mouse embryo and brain transparent without damaging the samples. Then they visualized a neural circuit diagram. This allowed us to see the structure of the brain without cutting tissues into small pieces, which is extremely important for neurobiology.
In fact, RIKEN scientists created a brightening agent. This is hard to believe, but the brightener is a saturated aqueous solution of fructose with the addition of α-thioglycerol to prevent browning. Before becoming transparent, the sample was soaked in solution for three days. The thing is the refractive index, which SeeDB has (1,490). A similar refractive index are lipids, fat-like substances in living cells.
The tissue sample was discerned through a two-photon laser microscope after adding fluorescent dyes to the neural circuit of the sample.
Unlike other brighteners, SeeDB does not change the chemical composition or structure of the tissue, which is very important in the study of the brain. Sugar solution is inexpensive and easier to work with, scientists say.
For the first time, researchers were able to observe nerve fibers connecting the left and right hemispheres of the mouse brain, as well as photograph neurons in the olfactory bulb.
Today, this is the best technique for constructing a neural map of the rodent's brain, and tomorrow, a human. The technology will help to better study the human brain and in the future will be used to create complex implants, scientists say.
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The article is based on materials .
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