Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2012, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (11): 805-809.

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Biotinylated dextran amine anterograde tracing of the canine corticospinal tract

Xiao Han1, Guangming Lv1, Huiqun Wu2, Dafeng Ji1, Zhou Sun1, Yaofu Li1, Lemin Tang3   

  1. 1  Department of Human Anatomy, Institute of Neurobiology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
    2  Department of Medical Informatics, Institute of Digital Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
    3  Department of Medical Image Engineering, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Received:2011-11-16 Revised:2012-03-06 Online:2012-04-15 Published:2012-04-15
  • Contact: Guangming Lv, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Human Anatomy, Institute of Neurobiology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China; Lemin Tang, Professor, Department of Medical Image Engineering, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China gmlu@ntu.edu.cn; lemintang@ntu.edu.cn
  • About author:Xiao Han★, Master, Lecturer, Department of Human Anatomy, Institute of Neurobiology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China

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Abstract:

In this study, biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) was microinjected into the left cortical motor area of the canine brain. Fluorescence microscopy results showed that a large amount of BDA-labeled pyramidal cells were visible in the left cortical motor area after injection. In the left medulla oblongata, the BDA-labeled corticospinal tract was evenly distributed, with green fluorescence that had a clear boundary with the surrounding tissue. The BDA-positive corticospinal tract entered into the right lateral funiculus of the spinal cord and descended into the posterior part of the right lateral funiculus, close to the posterior horn, from cervical to sacral segments. There was a small amount of green fluorescence in the sacral segment. The distribution of BDA labeling in the canine central nervous system was consistent with the course of the corticospinal tract. Fluorescence labeling for BDA gradually diminished with time after injection. Our findings indicate that the BDA anterograde tracing technique can be used to visualize the localization and trajectory of the corticospinal tract in the canine central nervous system.

Key words: biotinylated dextran amine, corticospinal tract, anterograde tracing, fluorescence, canine