Fast free of acrylamide clearing tissue (FACT) for clearing, immunolabelling and three‐dimensional imaging of partridge tissues

• Published in: Microscopy research and technique 2018-12, Vol.81 (12), p.1374-1382
• Main Authors: Mohammad Rezazadeh, Farzad, Saedi, Saman, Rahmanifar, Farhad, Namavar, Mohammad Reza, Dianatpour, Mehdi, Tanideh, Nader, Akhlaghi, Amir, Niazi, Ali, Arabi Monfared, Ali, Tsutsui, Kazuyoshi, Jafarzadeh Shirazi, Mohammad Reza, Tamadon, Amin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acrylamide; Acrylamide - chemistry; Animals; Brain; Brain - metabolism; Brain Chemistry; Breeding; Breeding seasons; Chukar partridge; Clearing; Cryoultramicrotomy; Duodenum; Esophagus; FACT; Fluorescence; Galliformes; GnIH; Gonadotropins; Histocytological Preparation Techniques - methods; Hypothalamic Hormones - analysis; Hypothalamic Hormones - metabolism; Hypothalamus; Imaging; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Immunohistochemistry; Jejunum; Lipids; Lungs; Male; Microscopes; Microtomy; Muscles; Nervous tissues; Neuroimaging; Nuclei (cytology); Organic chemistry; Pancreas; Paraventricular nucleus; Pituitary (anterior); Proteins; Skeletal muscle; Sodium; Sodium dodecyl sulfate; Sodium lauryl sulfate; Staining; three‐dimensional imaging; Trachea
• ISSN: 1059-910X; 1097-0029
• DOI: 10.1002/jemt.23078

Fast free of acrylamide clearing tissue (FACT) is a modified sodium dodecyl sulfate‐based clearing protocol for the chemical clearing of lipids that completely preserves fluorescent signals in the cleared tissues. The FACT protocol was optimized to image translucent immunostained brain and non‐nervous tissues. For this purpose adult male Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) was used as a model. After clearing the tissues, 1 or 2 mm‐thickness sections of tissues were immunolabeled. The paraventricular nucleus in the hypothalamus (2‐mm section) was cleared with FACT, and then was stained with gonadotropin‐inhibitory hormone (GnIH) antibody and Hoechst. Simultaneously, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of cryosectioned brain (30 μm) was done by GnIH‐antibody. The FACT protocol and staining of cell nuclei of nine other tissues were done by a z‐stack motorized fluorescent microscope. GnIH‐immunoreactive neurons were found by FACT and IHC during the breeding season in male partridges. Deep imaging of the kidney, duodenum, jejunum, lung, pancreas, esophagus, skeletal muscle, trachea, and testis were also done. The FACT protocol can be used for the three‐dimensional imaging of various tissues and immunostained evaluation of protein markers. Research highlight The FACT is a simple and cheap method for whole tissue clearing. The FACT‐cleared tissues can be imaged with simple fluorescent microscopes. For the first time, using the FACT, three‐dimensional imaging of various tissues was done.