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.

Carefully read the guidelines and ensure you are bringing properly prepared samples.

Size 

Samples must be grossed to a reasonable size BEFORE fixation.

Tissues should be no thicker than 5mm and a maximum of 1.5cm length and width.

Smaller pieces have better fixation and are easier to section.

Provide only tissue significant to your research, having grossed out any other attached tissue or organs that are not necessary.

If you deal with larger specimens, please provide only a biopsy.

Fixation

Please fix all tissues in appropriate fixative based on what the samples are to be used for.

Perfusion is optimal if using animal tissues, immersion also sufficient if the tissue is of an appropriate size.

Some fixatives may interfere with staining or immunohistochemistry conditions.

Common fixatives used are 10% buffered formalin or 4% formaldehyde (prepared from a 37% stock liquid containing methanol commercially purchased or prepared from a powder).

Minimum fixation time should be 24 hours and can last as long as five days.

Your tissue sample should be free floating in fixative of at least 10X the tissue volume.

Once your samples are in fixative, they may be delivered to the histology lab. Samples may also be stored in PBS at 4°C or 70% ethanol at room temperature for short periods.

In addition to your samples, please bring:

• A slide box of sufficient size for the requested slides at the time of sample drop off or one will be added to your invoice.
• Completed forms, including a work request, sample submission and waiver forms.

Important: Please make arrangements with histology staff PRIOR to sample drop off to ensure we are available 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 best results, tissues must be properly prepared.

Carefully read the guidelines and ensure you are bringing properly prepared tissues and all required paperwork and approvals.

Size

Samples must be grossed to a reasonable size BEFORE fixation or snap freezing.

Smaller pieces have better fixation and are easier to section. Tissues should be no thicker than 5mm and a maximum of 1.5cm length and width.

Provide only tissue significant to your research, having grossed out any other attached tissue or organs that are not necessary. If you deal with larger specimens, please provide only a biopsy.

Fixation

Please fix all tissues in appropriate fixative based on what the samples are to be used for. Some fixatives may interfere with staining or immunohistochemistry conditions.

Common fixatives used are 10% buffered formalin or 4% formaldehyde (prepared from a 37% stock liquid containing methanol commercially purchased or prepared from a powder).

After 24 hours fixation, wash the tissue in 1 x PBS, three times for five minutes.

Sucrose infuse tissue (cryoprotection)

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

Make a 30% sucrose solution in 1 x PBS and then transfer the tissue from 20% sucrose solution to the 30% sucrose solution at 4°C again until the tissue sinks (usually overnight).

Infiltration

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

Freezing

Freezing artifacts are common, please ensure you are freezing the blocks correctly (quickly enough) to avoid this. Freezing blocks too slowly results in poor morphology.

If tissues are to be unfixed, they may be snap frozen in isopentane/liquid nitrogen in OCT and delivered frozen to the histology lab.

Please ensure blocks are correctly frozen and not cracked and tissue orientation is correct. Incorrect preparation will result in freeze artifacts.

Once your samples are in fixative, they may be delivered to the histology lab. We will also accept already blocked samples frozen in cryo molds with OCT or other desired medium.

In addition to your samples, please bring:

• A slide box of sufficient size for the requested slides at the time of sample drop off or one will be added to your invoice.
• Completed forms, including a work request, sample submission and waiver forms.

Important: Please make arrangements with histology staff PRIOR to sample drop off to ensure we are available to accept your samples.

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

We provide TEM services for tissues, cells and nano-particles using  the Phillips CM10.

Tissue and cell samples are typically embedded in Embed 812 and sectioned with a diamond. Thick sections are 0.5-1um and stained with toluidine blue for orientation, quality control and documentation. Thin sections are 90-100nm collected on grids. Staining is done using uranyl acetate or uranyless and lead citrate. Imaging is done at 800 - 64,000X magnification.

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

For best results, tissues must be properly prepared.

Carefully read the guidelines and ensure you are bringing properly prepared tissues and all required paperwork and approvals.

Size

Tissues must be grossed to 1mm cubes before fixation.

Provide only tissue significant to your research, having grossed out any other attached tissue or organs that are not necessary. If you deal with larger specimens, please provide only a biopsy.

Fixation

Please fix all tissue or cells in 3% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M Sorensen’s buffer.

This can be provided by the histology lab, please make arrangements for fixative pick-up in advance of cell harvest or animal sacrifice so we can ensure the solutions are fresh.

If processing brain or nerve tissue, a combination of parafomaldehyde and gluteraldehyde may be provided.

If using animals, perfusion fixation is imperative for preservation of fine structures.

Minimum fixation time

Two to three hours for cells and three to four hours for tissue.

Your tissue sample should be free floating in fixative of at least 10x the volume 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.