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A Day in the Lab: Decoding the Histopathological Alterations in Brain Slices Post-Stroke

✍️ Author: Dr Eleni Christoforidou

🕒 Approximate reading time: 4 minutes

Today, I've been engrossed in studying H&E stained brain slices, attempting to unearth histopathological modifications in the aftermath of a stroke. H&E-stained brain tissue was scrutinised under a light microscope. The somas of healthy, unaffected neurons exhibited a round shape, with a distinctly visible nucleus. Contrarily, ischaemic neurons displayed a dark and shrunken appearance, coupled with pyknotic nuclei. Moreover, eosin staining appeared more muted and there was noticeable vacuolation of the neuropil. A significant infiltration of neutrophils was observed, and oedema was glaringly apparent. Below, I've included some of the images I captured using the microscope.

Timelapse: Observing the stained brain slices under a light microscope.

Light microscopic images (x40 magnification) of H&E-stained brain tissue post-stroke. The left image presents unaffected tissue from the ipsilateral hemisphere. The right image exhibits the infarct.
Light microscopic images (x40 magnification) of H&E-stained brain tissue post-stroke. The left image presents unaffected tissue from the ipsilateral hemisphere. The right image exhibits the infarct.
T2-weighted MRI images, 7 days post-stroke, alongside diagrams of corresponding coronal slices. The infarct area, observed via light microscopic examination of H&E-stained sections, was manually drawn onto the diagrams and is showcased in red.
T2-weighted MRI images, 7 days post-stroke, alongside diagrams of corresponding coronal slices. The infarct area, observed via light microscopic examination of H&E-stained sections, was manually drawn onto the diagrams and is showcased in red.

Unpacking the Methodology of Today's Experiment

The infarct area, as observed on H&E-stained sections under the light microscope, was manually transcribed onto diagrams of corresponding coronal slices from a brain atlas. These were subsequently scanned into a computer and scrutinised using image analysis software. The area of the drawn infarct was manually delineated, mirroring the method applied for T2-weighted MRI images, but without oedema correction. The infarct area from each diagram was compared with the oedema-corrected and uncorrected infarct areas from the corresponding slices from T2-weighted MRI images of the same brain, to evaluate the precision of infarct measurement from MRI images. Oedema-corrected infarct areas from T2-weighted images were calculated using formulas from previously published research. Lesion areas deduced from diagrams were significantly smaller than those calculated from T2-weighted images prior to oedema correction.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for professional advice. While the author holds a PhD in Neuroscience and has extensive experience in the field, the content of this post may not be fully exhaustive or up-to-date, and in-text citations or a bibliography are not always provided. Readers are encouraged to consult relevant primary research articles, textbooks, and other reliable sources for comprehensive information on the topic. The author is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided in this post.

Published 1 Dec 2017