Whole Brain Profiling of Cells and Circuits in Mammals by Tissue Clearing and Light Sheet Microscopy
Tissue clearing and light sheet microscopy have a 100 year plus history, yet these fields have been combined only recently to facilitate novel experiments and measurements in neuroscience. Since tissue clearing methods were first combined with modernized light sheet microscopy a decade ago, the performance of both technologies has rapidly improved, broadening their applications. Here, we review the state of the art of tissue clearing methods and light sheet microscopy and discuss applications of these techniques in profiling cells and circuits in mice. We examine outstanding challenges and future opportunities for expanding these techniques to achieve brain wide profiling of cells and circuits in primates and humans. Such integration will help provide a systems level understanding of the physiology and pathology of our central nervous system.
Neuron