Transcardial perfusion versus immersion fixation for assessment of peripheral nerve regeneration

J Neurosci Methods. 2009 Nov 15;184(2):303-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2009.08.019. Epub 2009 Aug 31.

Abstract

Accurate assessment of peripheral nerve regeneration requires fixation techniques that preserve tissue in a natural state with minimal artifact. While transcardial perfusion fixation is accepted as the gold standard for tissue fixation, the less cumbersome approach of immersion fixation has been criticized for introducing artifacts in brain tissue. We investigated whether immersion fixation increased artifact compared to perfusion fixation in the rat sciatic nerve. Eighteen Lewis rats were randomized into three groups: glutaraldehyde immersion fixation; glutaraldehyde transcardial perfusion; and paraformaldehyde transcardial perfusion. All animals underwent sciatic nerve transection and repair followed by tissue harvest and fixation at three weeks. Qualitative assessment of neural architecture and histological features was followed by quantitative analysis of nerve regeneration parameters. Outcome measures included quantitative histomorphometry, analysis of axon/myelin ratios, assessment of fiber distributions, and ultrastructural analysis. No qualitative or quantitative differences were observed with immersion fixation when compared to the transcardial perfusion fixation methods. Immersion fixation is a valid method for assessment of peripheral nerve regeneration in a rat model.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Artifacts
  • Axons / physiology
  • Axons / ultrastructure
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dissection / methods
  • Fixatives / chemistry*
  • Formaldehyde / chemistry
  • Glutaral / chemistry
  • Heart
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Myelin Sheath / physiology
  • Myelin Sheath / ultrastructure
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / physiology
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / ultrastructure
  • Nerve Regeneration / physiology*
  • Perfusion / methods*
  • Peripheral Nerves / cytology*
  • Peripheral Nerves / physiology
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Postmortem Changes*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Lew
  • Sciatic Neuropathy / pathology
  • Sciatic Neuropathy / physiopathology
  • Tissue Fixation / methods*

Substances

  • Fixatives
  • Polymers
  • Formaldehyde
  • Glutaral
  • paraform