The Human Brain: Dissections of the Real Brain

Methods Used in Preparing the Specimens

The preservation method of Klingler was utilized, with minor adaptations. In removing the brain from the skull, every effort was made to minimize damage to the delicate surface. The organ was then suspended, by means of a ligature placed around the basilar artery, in a vessel containing 10% formaldehyde solution. This fluid was replaced after 24 hours and again after an interval of two weeks. After a total period of 4 weeks or longer in the formaldehyde solution, the brain was washed for several hours in cold running water.

Next it was placed in a plastic vessel containing 10% formaldehyde solution and stored for 8 days in a freezer at -25 to -30°C. At this point the brain was thawed under running cold water for 24 hours. Repeating the freezing procedure (in 10% formaldehyde solution) two or three times has been found to facilitate the subsequent dissection. After the last freezing, the brain can be kept in 5% formaldehyde solution indefinitely.

While the freezing method is an aid to dissection and generally increases the distinction between the grey and white matter of the brain, it does not produce absolutely consistent results, as Klingler himself acknowledged. As a rule, however, the technique described above makes it easier to prepare dissections of both fiber tracts and nuclei. We have observed that, for making horizontal and coronal sections of the brain, satisfactory contrast between white and grey matter is achieved without using any stain. Fine forceps--straight or curved--were used to dissect the delicate nerve bundle preparations.

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