Trending Now - Study Shows Revived Brain Activity in Cryopreserved Mice
WHO:
Dr. Alexander German, study author, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg
Dr. Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston, neuroscientist, author of The Future Loves You (not involved in the study)
WHAT:
Scientists restored brain activity in mouse hippocampal tissue after it was cryopreserved for seven days.
The brain tissue was preserved at temperatures below -150°C (-238°F) and later rewarmed.
The study demonstrated recovery of neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission, and long-term potentiation.
The research was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
WHERE:
Laboratory located in Germany, specifically at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg.
WHEN:
The study was published in 2026.
The brain tissue was stored for seven days at -150°C.
WHY:
The research aimed to test whether living neurons could survive a deep freeze that completely stopped their activity.
The goal was to explore the potential for preserving neural tissue in a near-native state for research and clinical applications.
HOW:
The team used a technique called vitrification, which replaces water in tissues with chemical solvents to prevent ice crystal formation.
The brain tissue was treated with a cryoprotectant solution to stabilize cells during extreme cooling.
The samples were cooled rapidly to about -196°C using liquid nitrogen before being stored at -150°C.
The tissue was gradually warmed to avoid sudden structural damage, allowing for the recovery of electrical activity.
(UPDATED March 14, 2026 19:11 UTC)
In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg successfully restored brain activity in mouse hippocampal tissue that had been cryopreserved for seven days at temperatures below -150°C. The research demonstrated that the neurons not only survived the deep freeze but also recovered their excitability, synaptic transmission, and long-term potentiation after being rewarmed, thanks to a technique called vitrification that prevents ice crystal formation. This innovative approach aims to explore the potential for preserving neural tissue in a near-native state for future research and clinical applications.