We offer standard paraffination preparation.

To set up a consultation to discuss your specific needs or ask any additional questions, please contact the histology lab.

Please follow guidelines below to ensure your samples are properly prepared.

Size:

• Gross your samples to a reasonable size before fixation.
• Tissues should not exceed 5mm in thickness and should have a maximum length and width of 1.5cm.
• Smaller pieces provide better fixation and are easier to section.
• Only include tissue that is significant to your research, removing any unnecessary attached tissue or organs.
• For larger specimens, provide a biopsy instead.

Fixation:

• Fix all tissues in an appropriate fixative based on the intended use of the samples.
• Perfusion fixation is optimal for animal tissues, but immersion fixation is sufficient if the tissue is an appropriate size.
• Be aware that certain fixatives may interfere with staining or immunohistochemistry conditions.
• Common fixatives include 10% buffered formalin or 4% formaldehyde prepared from a commercially purchased 37% stock liquid containing methanol or prepared from a powder.

Minimum fixation time:

• Ensure a minimum fixation time of 24 hours, but it can last up to five days.

Free-floating in fixative:

• Your tissue sample should be freely floating in fixative with a volume at least 10 times that of the tissue.

After your samples are fixed, you have a few options:

1. Delivery to the histology lab: You can bring the samples to the histology lab for further processing.

2. Short-term storage: If needed, you can store the samples in PBS at 4°C or 70% ethanol at room temperature for a short period of time.

When submitting your samples, please remember to:

• Bring a slide box of sufficient size for the requested slides at the time of sample drop-off. If you don't have one, it will be added to your invoice.
• Complete the necessary forms, including a work request, sample submission, and waiver forms.

Important: Before dropping off your samples, make sure to contact the histology staff in advance to coordinate and ensure their availability to accept your samples.

The pricing shown here is for UM and affiliated investigators. For industry pricing, please contact us.

We offer standard frozen preparation.

To set up a consultation to discuss your specific needs or ask any additional questions, please contact the histology lab.

For optimal results, it is essential to properly prepare your tissues following these guidelines:

Size:

• Gross the samples to a reasonable size before fixation or snap freezing.
• Smaller pieces provide better fixation and are easier to section.
• Tissues should not exceed 5mm in thickness and should have a maximum length and width of 1.5cm.
• Include only the tissue relevant to your research, removing any unnecessary attached tissue or organs. For larger specimens, provide a biopsy instead.

Fixation:

• Fix all tissues in an appropriate fixative based on their intended use.
• Be aware that certain fixatives may interfere with staining or immunohistochemistry conditions.
• Common fixatives include 10% buffered formalin or 4% formaldehyde prepared from a commercially purchased 37% stock liquid containing methanol or prepared from a powder.
• After 24 hours of fixation, wash the tissue in 1x PBS three times for five minutes.

Cryoprotection with sucrose infusion:

• Prepare a 20% sucrose solution in 1x PBS and transfer the tissue into it. Keep the tissue in this solution at 4°C until it sinks (usually overnight).
• Prepare a 30% sucrose solution in 1x PBS. Transfer the tissue from the 20% sucrose solution to the 30% sucrose solution at 4°C until the tissue sinks (usually overnight).

Infiltration:

• Transfer the tissue from the 30% sucrose solution to pure OCT or the desired embedding medium for up to 24 hours at 4°C.

Freezing:

• Pay attention to freezing blocks correctly and rapidly to avoid freezing artifacts. Slow freezing results in poor morphology.
• If tissues are unfixed, they can be snap frozen in isopentane/liquid nitrogen in OCT and delivered frozen to the histology lab.
• Ensure the blocks are correctly frozen without cracks and that tissue orientation is accurate. Incorrect preparation may lead to freeze artifacts.

By following these instructions, you can optimize the preparation of your tissues for further analysis.

After your samples have been fixed, you can deliver them to the histology lab. Alternatively, we accept samples that are already blocked and frozen in cryo molds with OCT or any other desired medium.

When submitting your samples, please remember to:

• Bring a slide box of appropriate size for the requested slides at the time of sample drop-off. If you don't have one, it will be added to your invoice.
• Complete the necessary forms, including a work request, sample submission, and waiver forms.

Important: Before dropping off your samples, please arrange with the histology staff in advance to ensure that we are available to accept them.

The pricing shown here is for UM and affiliated investigators. For industry pricing, please contact us.

We offer TEM services for tissues, cells, and nano-particles using the  Phillips CM10 and JEOL JEM-1400 microscopes.

Overview

Embedding and sectioning:

• Tissue and cell samples are embedded in Embed 812.
• Diamond sectioning is used, producing thick sections of 0.5-1um.
• Toluidine blue staining is applied to these thick sections for orientation, quality control, and documentation purposes.

Thin sectioning and staining:

• Thin sections of 90-100nm are collected on grids.
• Staining is performed using uranyl acetate or uranyless and lead citrate.

Imaging:

• Imaging takes place at magnifications ranging from 800 to 64,000X.

To discuss your specific needs or ask any additional questions, please contact the histology lab to set up a consultation.

For best results, follow these guidelines to properly prepare your tissues:

Size:

• Gross the tissues to 1mm cubes before fixation.
• Remove any unnecessary attached tissues or organs, providing only the tissue significant to your research. For larger specimens, submit only a biopsy.

Fixation:

• Fix all tissue or cells in 3% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M Sorensen's buffer.
• Coordinate with the histology lab to arrange pick-up of fresh fixative in advance of cell harvest or animal sacrifice.
• For brain or nerve tissue, a combination of parafomaldehyde and gluteraldehyde may be provided.
• If using animals, perfusion fixation is crucial for preserving fine structures.

Minimum fixation time:

• Cells: 2 to 3 hours.
• Tissue: 3 to 4 hours.

Ensure that your tissue sample is freely floating in fixative with a volume at least 10 times that of the tissue.

Once your samples are in fixative or sucrose solution (also may be provided) they may be delivered to the histology lab at a pre-arranged appointment time with the completed paperwork:

• Electron microscopy questionnaire and waiver (PDF)
• Sample submission form (PDF)
• Work request form (PDF)

A slide box is not required for TEM samples.

The pricing shown here is for UM and affiliated investigators. For industry pricing, please contact us.