Comparison of methanol fixation versus cryopreservation of the placenta for metabolomics analysis

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-11-2023

Publication Title

Sci Rep

Abstract

Methods for collection of placental tissue at room temperature for metabolic profiling are described. Specimens were excised from the maternal side of the placenta and immediately flash frozen or fixed and stored for 1, 6, 12, 24, or 48 h in 80% methanol. Untargeted metabolic profiling was performed on both the methanol-fixed tissue and the methanol extract. Data were analyzed using Gaussian generalized estimating equations, two sample t-tests with false discovery rate (FDR) corrections, and principal components analysis. Methanol-fixed tissue samples and methanol extracts had a similar number of metabolites (p = 0.45, p = 0.21 in positive vs. negative ion mode). In positive ion mode, when compared to flash frozen tissue, both the methanol extract and methanol-fixed tissue (6 h) had a higher number of metabolites detected (146 additional metabolites, p(FDR) = 0.020; 149 additional metabolites, p(FDR) = 0.017; respectively), but these associations were not found in negative ion mode (all p(FDR) ≥ 0.05). Principle components analysis demonstrated separation of the metabolite features in the methanol extract, but similarity between methanol-fixed tissue and flash frozen tissue. These results show that placental tissue samples collected in 80% methanol at room temperature can yield similar metabolic data to flash frozen specimens.

Medical Subject Headings

Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Methanol; Placenta; Metabolomics; Cryopreservation; Freezing

PubMed ID

36906704

Volume

13

Issue

1

First Page

4063

Last Page

4063

Find It @ Sladen

Share

COinS