Histology Core Facility
Processing and manufacture of tissue blocks from research samples.
Production of microscopic glass slides from tissues.
Histological staining of tissues, including many special stains.
Equipment for microscopic imaging, including fluorescence microscopy, as well as laser dissection microscopy, and frozen sectioning.
Services Available
The histology core facility at The University of Michigan Dental School provides histological services using standard histological techniques. The core specializes in sectioning of hard (demineralized) tissues.
Special stains available:
Class I
- Toluidine Blue
- Alcian Blue pH. 2.5
- P.A.S
- Verhoeff’s Elastic
- Saffranin O Fast Green
Class II
- Masson’s Trichrome
- Mallory’s Trichrome
- Gram +/- (Brown&Brenn)
Class III
- Von Kossa
- Methanamine Silver (GMS)
- Goldners Trichrome
Other special stains not listed will be quoted separately.
Equipment:
Nikon E800 Light microscope (with Diagnostics Spot-RT cooled CCD digital camera) with bright field, dark field, and fluorescence (FITC, TRITC, and triple- FITC, TRITC, and DAPI). Motorized stage for montage capabilities. Histomorphometric measurements can be done with Image Pro software.
Leica AS LMD, laser micro dissection microscope (with fluorescence).
View laser dissection in action.
Leica CM1850 Cyrostat
Personnel
- Chris Strayhorn
- Cynthia Zuccaro
Sample submission and Recharge rates
Samples must be properly fixed and transferred to 70% ETOH before sending to the histology core. Samples in tissue cassettes MUST be written in pencil.
Fixation used will depend, on what the researcher intends on using the tissue for. That is basic histology, immunohistochemistry, or insitu hybridization. Proper fixation is important for good histology.
Samples should be trimmed and edges to be cut inked (marked) appropriately. Dissection should be done by the lab, not core personnel.
Samples that need to be demineralized, is best done by the researcher but the service is available at the core. Demineralization choices are: 10% EDTA, Acetic acid formal saline, or Formic acid.
All orders are done on a first come first serve basis. Turnaround is dependent on volume being worked on and an estimated time of completion can be given at time of sample submission. Longer turnaround times do occasionally occur.
Large orders dealing with more complex issues may take longer than the standard turnaround time and will be discussed with the researcher.
Using a coding system on samples is highly suggested. Codes should be simple and complex codes or labels will re-coded by the core.
It is suggested that the researcher contact the core before a project is started to discuss proper fixation, processing, and embedding of samples to avoid any problems.
Click here to view the histology submission form.
Click here to view the cryosection submission form.
Location and contact information
The histology core is located in The University of Michigan Dental School G008 Kellogg at the corners of North University and Fletcher.
Phone: 1.734.647.4324
E-mail contact: cstray@umich.edu