A 6-step Approach to Gain Higher Quality Results From Organotypic Hippocampal Brain Slices in a Traumatic Brain Injury Model

Organotypic Hippocampal Brain Slices (OHBS) provide a better alternative to in vivo models to scrutinize Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). We followed a well-established TBI protocol but noticed that several factors might influence the results in such a set-up. Here, we describe a structured approach to generate more comparable results and discuss why specific eligibility criteria should be applied.

We defined necessary checkpoints and developed inclusion and exclusion criteria that took into consideration the observed variation in such a model. Objective measures include the identification and exclusion of pre-damaged slices and outliers. In this study, six steps were outlined.

A six-step approach to enhance comparability is proposed and summarized in a flowchart. We applied the suggested measures to data derived from our TBI-experiments, examining the impact of three different interventions in 1459 OHBS. Our exemplary results show that more precise findings are ensured through equal requirements set for all slices.

Results in a TBI experiment on OHBS should be critically analyzed as inhomogeneity may occur. In other words, a structured approach to comparing the results should be followed to ensure achieving more precise findings. Further research is recommended to confirm and further develop this framework.