A Clear Mind

Seward, Chris

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/95891 Copy

Description

Title

A Clear Mind

Author(s)

Seward, Chris

Contributor(s)

• Stubbs, Lisa
• Lu, Xiaochen

Issue Date

2017

Keyword(s)

Cell and Developmental Biology

Abstract

Novel imaging techniques are necessary for examining whole brain protein expression patterns. Animal brains are large, complex structures that are difficult to image comprehensively. Neurons can be several inches long, while only a few nanometers in width and can branch in many directions connecting different regions of the brain. Laser light has trouble penetrating the dense, opaque tissue, which usually means brains can only be imaged in extremely thin slices that fail to image complete cell processes. To solve these problems, we have modified a technique called CLARITY that allows us to make a whole mouse brain completely transparent, while keeping fluorescent labels intact. This process allows us to visualize the connections of an intact brain at extremely high resolution in three dimensions. The goal of our study is to identify the proteins activated after a social stimulus, such as an intruder in an animal’s home. This image shows inhibitory neurons in green and neuron bundles expressing a protein that is triggered by a social experience in red. The blue background stain reveals important brain structures. These images allow us to connect the expression of a gene in one area of the brain, and follow it’s signal to other areas.

Type of Resource

• text
• image

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/95891

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2017 Chris Seward

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