Preserving Neuronal Chemical Messengers: Heat Stabilization Versus Snap Freezing for Improved MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Brain Tissues.

ABSTRACT: One of the main challenges in analyzing chemical messengers in the brain is the optimization of tissue sampling and preparation protocols. Limiting postmortem time and terminating enzyme activity is critical to identify low-abundance neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. Here, we used a rapid and uniform conductive heat transfer stabilization method that was compared with a conventional fresh freezing protocol. Together with a selective chemical derivatization method and an optimized quantitation approach using deuterated internal standards, we spatially mapped neurotransmitters and their related metabolites by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) in rat brain tissue sections. Although the heat stabilization did not show differences in the levels

SUBMITTER: Salviati E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12169076 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature