Combining atomic force microscopy and fluorescence-based techniques to explore mechanical properties of naive and ischemia-affected brain regions in mice
Abstract Knowledge of the brain’s structure and function is essential for understanding processes in health and disease. Histochemical and fluorescence-based techniques have proven beneficial in characterizing brain regions and cellular compositions in pre-clinical research. Atomic force microscopy...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-08-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39277-1 |
| _version_ | 1797452929921187840 |
|---|---|
| author | Thomas Fuhs Bianca Flachmeyer Martin Krueger Alexandra Blietz Wolfgang Härtig Dominik Michalski |
| author_facet | Thomas Fuhs Bianca Flachmeyer Martin Krueger Alexandra Blietz Wolfgang Härtig Dominik Michalski |
| author_sort | Thomas Fuhs |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Knowledge of the brain’s structure and function is essential for understanding processes in health and disease. Histochemical and fluorescence-based techniques have proven beneficial in characterizing brain regions and cellular compositions in pre-clinical research. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been introduced for mechanical tissue characterization, which may also help investigate pathophysiological aspects in disease-related models such as stroke. While combining AFM and fluorescence-based techniques, this study explored the mechanical properties of naive and ischemic brain regions in mice. Ischemia-affected regions were identified by the green signal of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated albumin. A semi-automated protocol based on a brain atlas allowed regional allocations to the neocortex, striatum, thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and fiber tracts. Although AFM led to varying measurements, intra-individual analyses indicated a gradually increased tissue stiffness in the neocortex compared to subcortical areas, i.e., the striatum and fiber tracts. Regions affected by ischemia predominantly exhibited an increased tissue stiffness compared to those of the contra-lateral hemisphere, which might be related to cellular swelling. This study indicated intra-individual differences in mechanical properties among naive and ischemia-affected brain regions. The combination of AFM, semi-automated regional allocations, and fluorescence-based techniques thus qualifies for mechanical characterizations of the healthy and disease-affected brain in pre-clinical research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:15:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a39317cc045e4c4296070401687910e3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:15:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-a39317cc045e4c4296070401687910e32023-11-26T13:08:00ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-08-011311810.1038/s41598-023-39277-1Combining atomic force microscopy and fluorescence-based techniques to explore mechanical properties of naive and ischemia-affected brain regions in miceThomas Fuhs0Bianca Flachmeyer1Martin Krueger2Alexandra Blietz3Wolfgang Härtig4Dominik Michalski5Section of Soft Matter Physics, Faculty of Physics and Geosciences, University of LeipzigInstitute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of LeipzigInstitute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of LeipzigDepartment of Neurology, Medical Faculty, University of LeipzigPaul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University of LeipzigDepartment of Neurology, Medical Faculty, University of LeipzigAbstract Knowledge of the brain’s structure and function is essential for understanding processes in health and disease. Histochemical and fluorescence-based techniques have proven beneficial in characterizing brain regions and cellular compositions in pre-clinical research. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been introduced for mechanical tissue characterization, which may also help investigate pathophysiological aspects in disease-related models such as stroke. While combining AFM and fluorescence-based techniques, this study explored the mechanical properties of naive and ischemic brain regions in mice. Ischemia-affected regions were identified by the green signal of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated albumin. A semi-automated protocol based on a brain atlas allowed regional allocations to the neocortex, striatum, thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and fiber tracts. Although AFM led to varying measurements, intra-individual analyses indicated a gradually increased tissue stiffness in the neocortex compared to subcortical areas, i.e., the striatum and fiber tracts. Regions affected by ischemia predominantly exhibited an increased tissue stiffness compared to those of the contra-lateral hemisphere, which might be related to cellular swelling. This study indicated intra-individual differences in mechanical properties among naive and ischemia-affected brain regions. The combination of AFM, semi-automated regional allocations, and fluorescence-based techniques thus qualifies for mechanical characterizations of the healthy and disease-affected brain in pre-clinical research.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39277-1 |
| spellingShingle | Thomas Fuhs Bianca Flachmeyer Martin Krueger Alexandra Blietz Wolfgang Härtig Dominik Michalski Combining atomic force microscopy and fluorescence-based techniques to explore mechanical properties of naive and ischemia-affected brain regions in mice Scientific Reports |
| title | Combining atomic force microscopy and fluorescence-based techniques to explore mechanical properties of naive and ischemia-affected brain regions in mice |
| title_full | Combining atomic force microscopy and fluorescence-based techniques to explore mechanical properties of naive and ischemia-affected brain regions in mice |
| title_fullStr | Combining atomic force microscopy and fluorescence-based techniques to explore mechanical properties of naive and ischemia-affected brain regions in mice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Combining atomic force microscopy and fluorescence-based techniques to explore mechanical properties of naive and ischemia-affected brain regions in mice |
| title_short | Combining atomic force microscopy and fluorescence-based techniques to explore mechanical properties of naive and ischemia-affected brain regions in mice |
| title_sort | combining atomic force microscopy and fluorescence based techniques to explore mechanical properties of naive and ischemia affected brain regions in mice |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39277-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT thomasfuhs combiningatomicforcemicroscopyandfluorescencebasedtechniquestoexploremechanicalpropertiesofnaiveandischemiaaffectedbrainregionsinmice AT biancaflachmeyer combiningatomicforcemicroscopyandfluorescencebasedtechniquestoexploremechanicalpropertiesofnaiveandischemiaaffectedbrainregionsinmice AT martinkrueger combiningatomicforcemicroscopyandfluorescencebasedtechniquestoexploremechanicalpropertiesofnaiveandischemiaaffectedbrainregionsinmice AT alexandrablietz combiningatomicforcemicroscopyandfluorescencebasedtechniquestoexploremechanicalpropertiesofnaiveandischemiaaffectedbrainregionsinmice AT wolfganghartig combiningatomicforcemicroscopyandfluorescencebasedtechniquestoexploremechanicalpropertiesofnaiveandischemiaaffectedbrainregionsinmice AT dominikmichalski combiningatomicforcemicroscopyandfluorescencebasedtechniquestoexploremechanicalpropertiesofnaiveandischemiaaffectedbrainregionsinmice |