Fast Localization and Sectioning of Mouse Locus Coeruleus

The locus nucleus (LC) is a multifunctional nucleus which is also the source of norepinephrine in the brain. To date, there is no simple and easy method to locate the small LC in brain sectioning. Here we report a fast, accurate, and easy-to-follow protocol for the localization of mice LC in frozen sectioning. After fixation and dehydration, the intact brains of adult mice were placed on a horizontal surface and vertically cut along the posterior margin of the bilateral cerebral cortex. In the coronal cutting plane, the aqueduct of midbrain can be seen easily with the naked eyes. After embedding the cerebellum part with optimal cutting temperature (OCT) compound, coronal brain slices were cut from the cutting plane, within 1 mm, the aqueduct of midbrain disappeared and the fourth ventricle appeared, then the brain slices contained LC and were collected. From the first collection, at ~200 μm, the noradrenergic neurons’ most enriched brain slices can be collected. The tyrosine hydroxylase immunofluorescence staining confirmed that the localization of LC with this method is accurate and the noradrenergic neuron most abundant slices can be determined with this method.