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Table 2 Selection of studies culturing vibrating microtome-generated slices from different organs or tissues

From: Culture of vibrating microtome tissue slices as a 3D model in biomedical research

Organ/

tissue

Species

Slice

thickness

Culture time (max)

Culture system features

Purpose

Ref

Brain

rt

300 µm

8 weeks

On insert, ALI, lentiviral infection

Protocol for creating hippocampal slices

[30]

ms

110 µm

4 weeks

On insert, different Co-cultures

Protocol for co-cultures

[31]

hu

250-350 µm

6 weeks

On insert, submerged,

Protocol for creating cortical slices

[32]

Spinal cord

rt

350 µm

14 days

On insert, ALI

Model development

[33]

Oculomotor nerve

ms

400-450 µm

72 h

On insert, submerged,

Study of oculomotor nerve outgrowth

[34]

Retina

ms, rt

40 – 170 µm

4 weeks

Submerged, in a LumiCycle

Study of circadian oscillations

[35]

pg

250-300 µm

48 h

Within a gelatine sandwich, submerged

Morphometry and viability of photorecetors

[36]

fs

150 µm

5 days

On coverslips, agarose coated

Method validation, interaction among retinal cells

[37]

rt

125 µm

3 weeks

Plasma clot technique for cultivation

Electrophysiological recordings (patch clamp)

[38]

Olfactory epithelium

rt

400 µm

5 days

On coated inserts, submerged

Method for assessing olfactory development and function

[39]

Heart

rt, ms, hu, pg, dg

100-400 µm

7 days

ALI

Model development

[40]

hu, ms

380 µm

4 days

In chip, dynamic, with sensors

Shippable model for pre-clinical drug testing and basic research

[41]

hu, pg

300 µm

6 days

Submerged, electrical stimulation,

media oxygenation

Model for drug testing and

gene therapy

[42]

ms

300 µm

6 days

On insert, ALI

Model for gene therapy, gene transfer efficiency, cell tropism, and toxicity

[43]

hu

400 µm

48 h

On insert, ALI

SARS-CoV-2 infection model

[44]

hu

300 µm

14 days

Submerged, application of pre- and afterload

Analysis of contraction force and kinetics

[45]

pg

400-500 µm

48 h

On PDMS pillars, ALI, with/without insert, static and dynamic

Study epicardial cell physiology and activation

[46]

Lung

ms

275 µm

5 days

On insert, ALI

Model for circadian timing in lung, role of Clara cells and glucocorticoids

[47]

hu, ms

500 µm, 300 µm

5 days

Submerged, rolling, co-culture with transfected fibroblasts

Multidimensional immunolabeling and 4D time-lapse imaging of vital slices

[48]

hu, ms

500 µm, 300 µm

14 days

Submerged

Wnt-induced repair, 4D confocal live tissue imaging

[49]

ms

150 µm

15 days

Submerged

Study of small airway smooth muscle contraction

[50]

rt

500 µm

12 h

Stretcher to mimic breathing mechanic

Analysis of response to cigarette smoke

[51]

pg, hm, ct

350 µm

4 days

Submerged

Check for susceptibility for SARS-CoV-2

[52]

ms

300 µm

4 days

Submerged

Study of pulmonary fibrosis disease mechanisms

[53]

Salivary gland

hu

35 µm and 50 µm

14 days

On insert, ALI

Slice culture model development

[54]

ms

50 µm

2 days

Submerged

Slice culture model development with emphasis on imaging

[55]

Small Intestine

ms

250 µm

6 days

Slices covered with collagen and medium on top

Model for interactions of different cell types in the intestine

[56]

ms

250 µm

48 h

Slices covered with collagen and medium on top

Neuronal regulation of goblet cell production by

[57]

Colon

hu

250 µm

3 days

On collagen-covered slices, submerged, co-culture with S. typhimurium

Host microbial interactions, influence of oxygen availability

[58]

Prostate

hu

200-300 µm

10 days

Submerged, hypoxia

Prostate tissue model

[59]

Pancreas

ms

100 µm

12 weeks

On insert, ALI; electrophysiology

β-cell physiology modell establishment

[60]

Liver

hu, rt

100-400 µm

28 days

On insert, ALI

Fibrosis model

[61]

ms

100-250 µm

5 days

Submerged

Model for chronic liver diseases

[62]

ms, hu

250 µm

5 days

Submerged

Improve slice culture, fibrosis drug therapy testing

[63]

Spleen

ms

230 µm

4 days

Submerged

Protocol, method validation

[64]

Thymus

ms

400–500 µm

Several days

On insert, submerged; overlayed with thymocyte cell suspension

Model for studying T cell development

[65]

Femur

rt

300-400 µm

3 weeks

On insert

Study enchondral osteogenesis

[66]

Meibomian gland

ms

150 µm

21 days

Submerged

Model development, effect of melanocortins on secretion

[67]

Endometrium

hu

200 µm

48 h

Submerged

Modulation of endometrial PGE2 synthesis

[68]

  1. ALI Air–liquid interface, hu human, rt rat, ms mouse, pg pig, dg dog, hm hamster, ct cat