A method using DiI to study the connectivity of cortical transplants

Abstract

Carbocyanine DiI is described as a suitable fluorescent tracer to investigate the connectivity of cortical transplants. DiI was applied in 2 ways: in tissue previously fixed with aldehydes, and in vivo for labelling the donor tissue prior to transplantation. When applied in fixed tissue DiI travelled anterogradely, allowing the study of efferent connections from the transplant to the host. When DiI was applied in vivo, it travelled retrogradely showing the afferents to the transplant from the host.