2D Raman study of the healthy and epileptic rat cerebellar cortex tissue

• Published in: Journal of molecular structure 2018-07, Vol.1163, p.167-173
• Main Authors: Sacharz, Julia, Wesełucha-Birczyńska, Aleksandra, Zięba-Palus, Janina, Lewandowski, Marian H., Palus-Chramiec, Katarzyna, Chrobok, Łukasz, Moskal, Paulina, Birczyńska, Malwina, Sozańska, Agnieszka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2D correlation analysis; Cerebellar cortex; Epilepsy; Raman micropectroscopy
• ISSN: 0022-2860; 1872-8014
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2018.02.109

The aim of this study was to determine what changes in the Cerebellar cortex (Cc) of the rat's brain tissue can be observed by Raman spectroscopy comparing epileptic (WAG/Rij) and control (Wistar) rats. Experiments were performed on the brain slices obtained from male rats (2–3 weeks old). WAG/Rij rats, used in this study, represent the well-established model of epilepsy. The Raman spectra of the fresh, not additionally preserved brain scraps, kept in artificial cerebrospinal fluid, were collected using a 442 nm, 514.5 nm, 785 nm and 1064 nm laser lines as an excitation source. 2D correlation analysis was used to create two-dimensional (2D) spectra and wavelength of the excitation laser was regarded as an external stimulus. Differences in the 2D spectra of two investigated groups of rats were observed. Analysis of the intensity ratios of the respective marker Raman bands indicated close packing between the lipid chains in a healthy Cerebellar cortex tissue. In asynchronous maps of healthy tissue the cross-peaks of Trp and Tyr vibration, that are neurotransmitters' precursors, are recognized. In the epileptic tissue, the amino acids glutamate (Glu) and aspartate (Asp), excitatory neurotransmitters, initiate changes observed in the asynchronous map. [Display omitted] •The Raman spectra of the not additionally preserved brain scraps were collected using several laser lines.•Intensity ratios of marker Raman bands indicated close packing between the lipid chains in a healthy Cc tissue.•2D map of healthy tissue shows the cross-peaks of neurotransmitters' precursors Trp and Tyr.•In the epileptic tissue the excitatory neurotransmitters, Glu and Asp, are revealed.