An optimized tissue clearing protocol for rat brain labeling, imaging, and high throughput analysis

Abstract

The advent of whole brain clearing and imaging methods extends the breadth and depth at which brain-wide neural populations and structures can be studied. However, these methods have yet to be applied to larger brains, such as the brains of the common laboratory rat, despite the importance of these models in behavioral neuroscience research. Here we introduce AdipoClear+, an optimized immunolabeling and clearing methodology for application to adult rat brain hemispheres, and validate its application through the testing of common antibodies and electrode tract visualization. In order to extend the accessibility of this methodology for general use, we have developed an open source platform for the registration of rat brain volumes to standard brain atlases for high throughput analysis.