Novel tissue preservation method enables brain–body studies in animal research

Cardiovascular researchers at UC Davis Health have developed a novel technique that allows scientists to study how the brain communicates with other organs, like the heart or gut. The new method preserves the brain tissue in animal research while simultaneously collecting living (unfixed) samples from other organs.

Their work appears in STAR Protocols.

Traditional techniques in neuroscience animal studies preserved the entire body, making it impossible to study living tissues from the same animal.

The new method allows researchers to conduct multiple types of analyses—such as histology, functional and molecular studies. It uses the fixed brain and other unfixed tissues from one experimental animal without the need for numerous animals.

“This dual-preservation method represents a significant advancement in animal research, maximizing the scientific value of each model while reducing the number of animals needed for comprehensive studies,” said Xiaodong Zhang, professor of cardiovascular medicine and corresponding author of the study.

This technique gives researchers a powerful way to study how the brain interacts with other organs—like the heart or gut—during preclinical studies using animal models. By preserving the brain while keeping other organs fresh, scientists can now explore complex brain–body connections more effectively than ever before.

“This method is not only versatile and easy to use, thanks to its simple tools and adaptability across different animal models, but also cost-effective,” added Zhang. “It allows us to conduct multiple types of studies using the same animal. In the past, each animal could only be used for a single purpose. This means fewer animals, lower costs, and more comprehensive data from each experiment.”