Excitability and synaptic transmission after vitrification of mouse corticohippocampal slices

ABSTRACT Cryopreservation of adult neural tissue is of considerable practical and theoretical interest. Utilizing 61% w/v ethylene glycol, we vitrified and rewarmed acute mouse corticohippocampal slices to evaluate field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSP) in the stratum radiatum of the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Our results demonstrate successfully recovered synaptic transmission, and high-frequency stimulation (HFS)-induced potentiation. However, we failed to induce a stable potentiation following HFS stimulation. Structural analysis post-vitrification revealed cellular alterations such as swelling and vacuolization, which likely contributed to the unstable potentiation. Despite high variability in results, this study highlights the potential of vitrification to partially preserve brain function.