Close up of human tissue under microscope.

Histology Services, Imaging Facility, Electron Microscopy Platform

How to request services

To request histology services, electron microscopy or imaging facility services, please contact the histology lab for a consultation. 

After the consultation, we will provide an estimate for your approval. We will then let you know how to prepare your samples for optimal results and schedule an appointment for sample drop off. Please do not bring samples to the lab without an appointment.

Samples must be accompanied by completed forms (work request form, sample submission form, sample waiver form) as well as the signed estimate. 

Services provided

Paraffin

Overview

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.

Sample preparation guidelines

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.

Drop-off

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.

Costs

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

Task Description Item Cost
Processing tissue for paraffin Placing tissue that arrives in fixative (already grossed) into cassettes and labeling for the tissue processor Fixative, formalin, dehydrating alcohol, xylene and paraffin  included in processing charge
1-24 cassettes $39
25-50 cassettes $78
51-75 cassettes $117
76-100 cassettes $156
Labour $40/hour
Embedding tissue in paraffin Taking the cassettes from the tissue processor and setting them in paraffin in the correct orientation, then filling the mold with paraffin to create the block Paraffin from embedding machine Included in tissue processing charge
Paraffin, if separate $5 each
Cutting paraffin sections Sectioning the desired number for sections/slide from each block as requested APTES $1/slide
Superfrost plus $1.50/slide
Knife blade included   
Labour $40/hour
Staining paraffin sections Staining and cover slipping slides as requested Varies depending on the requested stain See staining information for details
H&E $3/slide
Labour $40/hour
IHC, IF and other assays IHC or IF on the prepared slides with antibodies as well as other requested assays (kit) Custom pricing for individual requests $100/run plus all required supplies and chemicals
Labour $40/hour
Imaging/analysis Image the slides using bright field or fluorescent microscopetaking pictures, performing analysis where required (counting, measuring, graphing) UM $75/hour
External, imaging done by staff $100
USB Saving image to USB for client USB $8
Digital transfer Digital image transfer via online platform N/A $0
Slide box Slide storage/transport Box $10

 

Sample images

  • Paraffin-1.jpg

    Paraffin embedded tissue sections on membrane slides.

  • Paraffin--2.jpg

    Paraffin cassette tissue block library.

Cryo

Overview

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.

Sample preparation guidelines

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.

 

Drop-off

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.

Costs

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

Task Description Item Cost
Fixing/embedding tissue for cryo sectioning Fix tissues in 4% paraformaldehyde, infuse with 20% and 30% sucrose, infiltrate with OCT and embed tissues in OCT in molds Fixative, PBS, sucrose, OCT, molds, dry ice $9 each
Labour $40/hour
Embedding tissue for cryo sectioning Fixed or snap frozen tissue is placed in molds with OCT and frozen OCT, molds, dry ice $5 each
Labour $40/hour
Cryo sectioning Sectioning the desired number for sections/slide from each block as requested APTES  $1/slide
Superfrost plus $1.50/slide
knife blade   included
Labour $40/hour
Staining frozen sections Staining and cover slipping slides as requested H&E $3/slide
Varies See staining page for special stains
Labour $40/hour
IHC, IF and other assays IHC or IF on the prepared slides with antibodies as well as other requested assays (kit)   $100/run
All required supplies and chemicals varies
Labour $40/hour
Imaging/analysis Image the slides using bright field or fluorescent microscopetaking pictures, performing analysis where required (counting, measuring, graphing) UM $75/hour
External, imaging done by staff $100
USB Saving image to USB for client USB $8
Digital transfer Digital image transfer via online platform N/A $0
Slide box Slide storage/transport Box $10

Sample images

  • Cryo-2.jpg

    A single tissue section from an OCT embedded frozen tissue, sectioned on a cryotome.

  • A piece of cryogenic equipment.

    Cryotome for frozen tissue sectioning.

Staining

Using a variety of staining processes, we can provide visual details about protein abundance, distribution, and localization.

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

View available stains

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

Overview

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.

Sample preparation guidelines

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.

Drop off

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:

A slide box is not required for TEM samples.

Costs

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

Task Description Item Cost

Processing and embedding tissue for EM

Fixing tissue or cells that arrive (already grossed) in fixative, sucrose buffer through to embedding in plastic

Fixative, sucrose, buffer, osmium tetroxide, alcohol dehydration, propylene oxide, EmBed 812 

Included

1-10 blocks

$195

Labour, five hours per tissue set and six hours per cell set

$40/hour

Sectioning (diamond knife)

Thick sectioning and staining with toluidine blue, thin sectioning 90-100nm and placing on desired number of grids (200 or 300 mesh copper) nickel or carbon/formvar available upon special request

diamond knife, slides, toluidine blue, grids

Included

Labour

$50/hour

Staining grids

 

Uranyl acetate, lead citrate or uranyless, lead citrate

Included

Labour

$50/hour

Imaging Electron Microscope Phillips CM10

TEM imaging done by histology staff

UM faculty and affiliates

$75/hour

External

$120/hour

USB Saving image to USB for client USB $8
Digital transfer Digital image transfer via online platform N/A $0

Sample images

  • Electron-Microscopy-2.jpg

    Ribbon of 90-100nm resin embedded tissue sections as cut on an ultratome and diamond knife.

  • Electron-Microscopy-3.jpg

    TEM images of a cell.

  • Electron-Microscopy-4.jpg

    TEM image of neural synapse.

  • Electron-Microscopy-5.jpg

    TEM image of a mitochondria.

Superresolution structured illumination microscopy  
High resolution imaging

Superresolution structured illumination microscopy (SR-SIM) is an advanced imaging technique used to image fine structural details with minimal changes to standard immunofluorescence protocols using conventional dyes.

The resulting image is of high quality with up to 120 nm lateral resolution (X,Y) and 300 nm axial resolution (Z).

This technique uses five different grating frequencies to allow for optimal matching of illumination pattern to laser wavelength and objective lens used.

For more information about SR-SIM, contact Dr. Thomas Klonisch at 204-789-3893.

Sample images

Shown here are fluorescently labelled cells imaged in widefield and with structured illumination processing comparison.

  • Structured-Illumination-Microscopy-1.jpg
  • Structured-Illumination-Microscopy-2.jpg
  • Structured-Illumination-Microscopy-3.jpg
  • Structured-Illumination-Microscopy-4.jpg
  • Structured-Illumination-Microscopy-5.jpg
  • Structured-Illumination-Microscopy-6.jpg
  • Structured-Illumination-Microscopy-7.jpg
  • Structured-Illumination-Microscopy-8.jpg

Equipment

Training and access request form

To request training and/or access, complete the request form.

Training and access request form

Forms

Use the links below for quick access to our forms.

You may also be looking for

Contact us

Histology Services, Imaging Facility, Electron Microscopy Platform
Room 119, 745 Bannatyne Avenue
Basic Medical Science Building
University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9

204-789-3508