Brain tissue can function outside the body for almost a month

Scientists have created the latest technique capable ofkeep brain tissue alive and functioning for 25 days. The technique developed by scientists from Japan is based on the use of microfluidic substances in order to prevent the drying of the tissue of the mouse brain. The new technique can be used not only for tissue research, but also to improve the technology of studying organogenesis.

The technique developed by Japanese scientists can help in pharmacology by increasing the amount of time to evaluate the effect of various drugs on the brain of living organisms

Can the brain function outside the body?

The brain is the most important organ responsible forthe activity of the whole living organism. By its structure, the brain is a complex organ, which consists of several types of tissues connected by nerve fibers. Brain tissue is considered a very difficult subject for research because of its complex structure, and despite improved research methods and modern technology, many processes occurring inside the brain tissue are still unknown to science.

Despite this fact, scientists managed to forcethe brain tissue of mice function even outside the body. Previously, scientists experienced many difficulties during research due to the fast drying and death of tissues outside the nutrient and moistened culture medium, but a new experiment was able to show that brain cells are able to survive in very extreme conditions and circumstances.

During the study, scientists usually managed to extend the action of the nutrient medium for only 4-5 days, while the new method allowed to extend this process to 100 days

And what do you think, is it humane to conduct such experiments for scientific purposes? Let's try to discuss this issue in our Telegram chat.

The latest way to get around mostproblems associated with transplantation of brain tissue, thanks to a device having a semi-permeable channel that is covered with an artificial membrane, as well as due to the special walls of a chemical used as an antifoam agent in drugs. Thus, tissues no longer need constant immersion, but at the same time they receive nutrition from a moistened nutrient medium that circulates in a semipermeable channel and does not interfere with natural gas exchange.

See also: Restored brain activity in 32 dead pigs

Tweak - a fluorescent protein, thanks to which it was possible to track the viability of brain tissue

In the study of new technology usedmodified mice in which circadian rhythm activity is directly related to the production of a fluorescent protein that allows scientists to track tissue viability due to the amount of bioluminescence produced by it. As a result of research, scientists came to the conclusion that tissues are able to maintain viability for more than 25 days, which can make a real revolution in biology and medicine. At the same time, such an unusual experiment can lead to problems regarding moral and ethical standards, provoking a large number of questions from animal advocates.