Prof. Helmut Heinsen | From in situ post-mortem imaging to 7T: a Latin American path to translational medicine

The University of Sao Paulo (USP) operates the first and unique 7T scanner in South America in cooperation with the Autopsy Service of Sao Paulo (SVO). The latter institution performs 13.000 to 15.000 autopsies per annum within post-mortem times of less than 24h. In about 80% of the cases the next of kins of diseased individuals consent a donation of organs and brains for a comprehensive scientific investigation comprising in situ post-mortem 7T MRI scanning and subsequent histological examination [1. 2]. The introduction of 7T scanners has considerably enhanced the resolution of magnetic resonance images. However. compared with histological techniques. resolution and diagnostic range of advanced scanners are still limited. We are using a modified celloidin method that greatly facilitates cutting and Nissl staining of in situ post-mortem scanned complete human brains within a short time and acceptable costs [3]. Some examples including basic research. diagnostic tools. and therapeutic interventions are shown to demonstrate the feasibility and range of combined imaging-histological examination of complete human brains [4]. In this way data from virtual and histological reality have the potential to considerably extend our knowledge on normal and pathological brain structure and function.1 de Oliveira KC. Nery FG. Ferreti RE. Lima MC. Cappi C. Machado-Lima A. Polichiso L. Carreira LL. Avila C. Alho ATet al (2012) Brazilian psychiatric brain bank: a new contribution tool to network studies. Cell Tissue Bank 13: 315-326 2 Grinberg LT. Ferretti RE. Farfel JM. Leiti R. Pasqualucci CA. Rosemberg S. Nitrini R. Saldiva PHN. Filho WJ (2007) Brain bank of the Brazilian aging brain study group - a milestone reached and more than 1.600 collected brains. Cell Tissue Banking 8: 151 3 Heinsen H. Arzberger T. Schmitz C (2000) Celloidin mounting (embedding without infiltration) - a new. simple and reliable method for producing serial sections of high thickness through complete human brains and its application to stereological and immunohistochemical investigations. J Chem Neuroanat 20: 49-59 4 Theofilas P. Polichiso L. Wang XH. Lima LC. Alho ATL. Leite REP. Suemoto CK. Pasqualucci CA. Jacob W. Heinsen Het al (2014) A novel approach for integrative studies on neurodegenerative diseases in human brains. J Neurosci Methods 226: 171-183