Available tissue

Online database access: e-NBB

The e-NBB provides online access to the NBB database. This enables researchers to find detailed information on current tissue availability. Furthermore, it is possible to make your own tissue selection, matched for ante-mortem and / or post-mortem parameters if necessary. To request tissue, this selection can be sent to the NBB together with the application form.

Sample storage conditions

Tissue is dissected from different anatomical regions and stored in three main storage types: frozen, formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE), and culture medium (fresh samples). Upon request, paraffin sections (8 micron) or formalin-fixed (not paraffin embedded) samples can also be provided.

On request, the specimens can be obtained fresh and placed in special media or fixatives according to the researcher’s protocol. Requests for specific brain areas are taken into account when performing autopsies.

Sample type

Cerebellum	Olfactory bulb
Hypothalamus	Normal appearing white matter
Hippocampus	MS lesions (active, inactive)
Locus coeruleus	MS lesions dissected on MRI guidance
Substantia nigra	DNA
Medulla oblongata	Cerebrospinal fluid
Striatum	Plasma
Spinal cord	Microglial cells
Dorsal root ganglia	Eyes (See eye donation)
Cortex (Frontal, Temporal, Parietal, Occipital)	Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC’s) from the NBB-Psy donor program.

Please note that for MS different brain areas are specified, because MS brains are dissected using a specific protocol.

Anonymized Donor information

The tissue is accompanied by anonymized donor information, including the neuropathological report and an extensive summary of the donor’s medical history. If requested, the tissue can be matched for ante-mortem parameters (e.g. age, sex, time and season of death, agonal state, pH, APO-E genotype) and post-mortem parameters (post-mortem delay, freezing or fixation procedure, storage time).

 

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