Metabolic changes in brain slices over time: a multiplatform metabolomics approach

Brain slice preparations are widely used for research in neuroscience. However, a high-quality preparation is essential and there is no consensus regarding stable parameters that can be used to define the status of the brain slice preparation after its collection at different time points. Thus, it is critical to establish the best experimental conditions for ex-vivo studies using brain slices for electrophysiological recording. In this study, we used a multiplatform (LC-MS and GC-MS) untargeted metabolomics-based approach to shed light on the metabolome and lipidome changes induced by the brain slice preparation process. We have found significant modifications in the levels of 300 compounds, including several lipid classes and their derivatives, as well as metabolites involved in the GABAergic pathway and the TCA cycle. All these preparation-dependent changes in the brain biochemistry should be taken into consideration for future studies to facilitate non-biased interpretations of the experimental results.