The brain preservation foundation awarded the researchers with Small Mammal Brain Preservation Prize for successfully preserving a rabbit’s brain for a long time without damaging the neural circuits. The research by 21st Century Medicine (21CM) was published in Cryobiology.

The researchers at 21CM used an Aldehyde-stabilized procedure, a cryopreservation technology, to preserve the brain; this resulted in beautiful preservation of every neuron and synapse across the entire brain. The process of preservation involved cryogenic freezing and then reviving of the structure of a rabbit’s brain. “Every neuron and synapse looks beautifully preserved across the entire brain, simply amazing given that I held in my hand this very same brain when it was vitrified glassy solid,” said Dr. Kenneth Hayworth, BPF president.

Presently, cryopreservation methods leave the brain completely dry and damaging most of it. However the new method devised by 21CM uses a mixture of cryonic and chemical to prevent drying out of brain, and not using enough chemicals to cause other types of decay. In preservation of organ, the researchers always rely on the special kind of solution to prevent ice crystals to form; the formation of crystals could cause damage to tissue in freeze and consequently revival of the brain difficult.

The new preservation process involves a technology known as vitrification that uses substances called cryoprotectants. The vitrification eliminates damage to cell structures caused by ice formation and facilitates in recovery of brain. On the contrary, the substance should not be applied to whole brains, as that can lead the brain’s tissue to damage.

The same researchers will again work with the foundation, this time on a new Large Mammal project for doing similar preservation of a larger brain. Only time would tell if continuous success of such projects would march towards research into human brain preservation.