Preparation of Brain Slices for Macroscopic Study by the Copper Sulfate-Phenol-Ferrocyanide Technique

Roberts, Melville; Hanaway, Joseph

doi:10.3109/10520296909063340

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Thereafter serial slices could readily be cut using a brain slicing box. The slices were then stained with a copper sulphate-phenol-ferrocyanide method (Roberts and Hanaway, 1969). This method stains the grey matter, leaving the white matter unstained, and facilitates macroscopic study by increasing the contrast.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation of CAT scan and visual field defects in vascular lesions of the posterior visual pathways.

McAuley¹,

Russell²

1979

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation of CAT scan and visual field defects in vascular lesions of the posterior visual pathways.

McAuley¹,

Russell²

1979

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry

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“…In 1969, Roberts and Hanaway from the University of Virginia Department of Anatomy published a staining method using copper sulfate and potassium ferrocyanide, resulting in a reddish color (Barnard et al, 1949 ; Roberts and Hanaway, 2009 ). Alston improved the protocol in 1981, achieving a better distinction between GM and WM (Alston, 1981 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macroscopic brain gray matter staining: historical protocol overview and neuroanatomy learning applications in second-year medical students

Villegas-Gomez,

Figueredo,

Ramirez

et al. 2023

Front. Neuroanat.

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Macroscopic staining in anatomical samples of the central nervous system is a technique that has been used for decades to achieve better differentiation of multiple gray matter structures, such as the cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellar nuclei. Staining methods are based on using the different components of the brain, mainly the lipids present in the white matter. These techniques have been progressively forgotten while computer renderings are increasing; however, as a primary exposure to surgical anatomy, stained brain specimens are considered a helpful tool. We aim to summarize different staining techniques, their principles, and their current applications for neuroanatomy learning purposes. In total, four gray matter staining protocol descriptions (Mulligan's, Roberts's, Alston's, and Prussian Blue) were performed, as well as Likert scale surveys of second-year medical students about their perceptions of the stained sections. The results showed that the different macroscopic stains for brain tissue are based on lipid and reactant interactions, intending to increase the white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) contrast. The search also showed that most staining protocols would take 2 days to develop. Efficient preservation options include submerging the sections in formaldehyde solutions, formaldehyde-free solutions, ethanol, or applying plastination techniques. Based on the student's perspective, the stained slices seem to be a valuable alternative to facilitate the study and identification of the basal ganglia and their relationships with the white matter (from 51.2 to 72% based on the Likert scale) compared with the non-stained sections. In conclusion, macroscopic staining of brain tissue continues to be a valuable tool for comprehensively studying the brain. Further research is needed to determine the efficacy of stained specimens as teaching tools.

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“…Four, a brain is serially sectioned in the coronal and sagittal directions. Five, the brain slices are stained to make the gray and white matter more distinguishable (Roberts and Hanaway, 1969;Barnett et al, 1980;Sheehan and Hrapchak, 1980). Six, the brain slices are scanned into a computer with higher resolution.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, such serial sectioning requires expensive equipment and an extraordinary amount of time. In order to solve these problems, the brain could be serially sectioned at 3 mm minimal thickness with a meat slicer after gelatin embedding (Roberts and Hanaway, 1969;Barnett et al, 1980;Heller and Stoddard, 1986). By using a meat slicer, the brain slices could easily be made with satisfactory quality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Method for preparing permanent brain slices and serial slice images for education and MRI correlation

Hwang

Chung

Park³

2006

Anat. Rec.

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It is important to understand the anatomical structures of the human brain in horizontal planes. Serially sectioned brain slices can easily be made with a meat slicer. The objective of this research was to enhance the educational value of serial brain slices made with a meat slicer through various applications. Two brains were taken out of two cadavers and embedded with gelatin solution to make two brain blocks. The first brain block was serially sectioned at 5 mm thickness using a meat slicer to make 28 horizontal brain slices. Each brain slice was embedded with a synthetic resin mixture to make 28 permanent specimens. The second brain block was magnetic resonance-scanned at 1.4 mm thickness to make 130 horizontal magnetic resonance images, then serially sectioned at the same thickness using the meat slicer to make 130 horizontal brain slices. Each brain slice was scanned into a computer to make a series of slice images. Ten anatomical structures in the slice images were outlined to make segmented images. Corresponding magnetic resonance images, slice images, and segmented images were stacked and volume-reconstructed to make three-dimensional images, which were sectioned and rotated at free angles. We show that the serial brain slices made with a meat slicer can be permanently preserved and used in a variety of educational settings. Anat Rec (Part B: New Anat) 289B:64 -71, 2006.

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Preparation of Brain Slices for Macroscopic Study by the Copper Sulfate-Phenol-Ferrocyanide Technique

Cited by 14 publications

References 5 publications

Correlation of CAT scan and visual field defects in vascular lesions of the posterior visual pathways.

Correlation of CAT scan and visual field defects in vascular lesions of the posterior visual pathways.

Macroscopic brain gray matter staining: historical protocol overview and neuroanatomy learning applications in second-year medical students

Method for preparing permanent brain slices and serial slice images for education and MRI correlation

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