Slice preparation

<p>The slice preparation or brain slice is a <a href="/facts/Laboratory_technique/kqR3Vtx9">laboratory technique</a> in <a href="/facts/Electrophysiology/VPd5VYzm">electrophysiology</a> that allows the study of neurons from various brain regions in isolation from the rest of the brain, in an ex-vivo condition. Brain tissue is initially sliced via a tissue slicer then immersed in <a href="/facts/Artificial_cerebrospinal_fluid/w0QYmdVq">artificial cerebrospinal fluid</a> (aCSF) for stimulation and/or recording. The technique allows for greater <a href="/facts/Scientific_control/FXHfQwHx">experimental control</a>, through elimination of the effects of the rest of the brain on the <a href="/facts/Neural_circuit/pgngqMLf">circuit</a> of interest, careful control of the physiological conditions through <a href="/facts/Perfusion/EFVLNUTg">perfusion</a> of substrates through the <a href="/facts/Incubation_fluid/58xGJsta">incubation fluid</a>, to precise manipulation of <a href="/facts/Neurotransmitter/LlpYFSU3">neurotransmitter</a> activity through perfusion of <a href="/facts/Agonist/nz8U5NNp">agonists</a> and <a href="/facts/Antagonist/AssYgnt1">antagonists</a>. However, the increase in control comes with a decrease in the ease with which the results can be applied to the whole neural system.
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Slice preparation open-in-new

Slice preparation