In:
eLife, eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd, Vol. 7 ( 2018-11-20)
Abstract:
The brain is made up of millions of cells called neurons, and it is important to learn how these neurons are wired together to better understand how the brain works. To make it easier to tell individual neurons apart in samples from brains, some scientists have developed a process called Brainbow that labels individual neurons with different fluorescent colors. Scientists have also created techniques called “tissue clearing” to make a brain transparent in the laboratory. These techniques make the brain see-through enough to allow scientists to study the wiring of the brain in three dimensions. These multicolor labeling and tissue clearing techniques are very helpful for studying the brain. But they have an important limitation; the fluorescent colors are not bright enough to allow scientists to trace the long extensions called axons and dendrites that wire neurons together. As a result, tracing axons and dendrites was difficult and required cutting the brain into hundreds of thin slices. It could take several months for scientists to trace the path of a single neuron. Brighter fluorescent labeling colors would allow scientists to use high-powered microscopes to trace the entire length of a neuron in a whole brain much more quickly and easily. Now, Sakaguchi et al. have developed a bright multicolor labeling method for neurons called Tetbow. Tetbow produces more vivid colors allowing scientists to trace the wiring of neurons over long distances in the mouse brain. Sakaguchi et al. combined Tetbow with tissue clearing techniques to dissect and trace many neurons in a whole mouse brain within a few days. Neuroscientists can now use Tetbow to speed up the study of how neurons are wired in the brain. Researchers working in other fields could also use Tetbow to help track the behavior of different cells. Tetbow allows everyone to see the beautiful wiring of the brain in three dimensions.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2050-084X
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.001
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.002
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.003
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.005
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.006
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.004
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.007
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.010
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.011
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.008
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.009
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.012
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.014
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.015
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.013
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.016
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.017
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.018
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.019
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.020
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.021
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.022
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.023
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.024
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.025
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.028
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.026
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.027
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.029
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.030
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.034
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.033
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.031
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.032
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.035
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.036
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.037
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.041
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.40350.042
Language:
English
Publisher:
eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
Publication Date:
2018
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2687154-3