A new protocol for brain extraction of sharks and batoids (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii)

In recent years, more studies have used brain tissues to investigate brain morphology as well as its potential contamination by trace metals and organic pollutants. In removing the brain, the neurocranium is often damaged during the dissection process, hampering its use for comparative morphological studies. Here, we present a new protocol for brain extraction that allows the preservation of the neurocranium for future morphological analyses. Extracting the brain through the anterior fontanelle is a method that involves minimal damage to the neurocranium, allowing it to be used in other studies and promoting collaboration among elasmobranch researchers. Integrating the protocol presented here with non-invasive techniques could also provide a wider understanding of neurocranium and brain morphology.