The Morphology & Imaging module provides technical support in the processing, sectioning, staining, and morphological analysis of ocular cells and tissues at the light and electron microscopic level.
Brief overview of histology services.
Specialized tissue preparation
Most users submit eye tissues for processing that have been chemically fixed by immersion in formaldehyde or similar fixatives. However, ocular tissue is sometimes best preserved following transcardial perfusion with aldehyde-based fixatives. This is a more time-consuming procedure but results in the rapid and comprehensive fixation of retina and other vascularized tissues. We can assist with this procedure. Similarly, rapid freezing (in liquid pentane) followed by freeze substitution in methanol/acetic acid has recently been shown to optimally preserve ocular morphology and enhances staining with certain antibodies (see Sun et al.,2017 Mol Vis 21: 428-442). We can assist with this procedure also.
Embedding, sectioning, and staining.
The lab performs tissue processing/embedding for routine paraffin samples, frozen sectioning, and glycol methacrylate. The lab offers routine H&E staining and a variety of special stains. Immunohistochemistry with DAB or fluorescently-labeled secondary antibodies is available and we also offer in situ hybridization (RNAscope) and TUNEL labeling.
Meet the Morphology & Imaging Core team
Steven Bassnett, PhD
Grace Nelson Lacy Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science
- Email: bassnett@nospam.wustl.edu
- Director of the Vision Center Core
- Director of the Imaging Core
Guang-Yi (George) Ling
Morphology core histology technician
- Phone: 3143623754
- Email: Guangyi@nospam.wustl.edu
Located in McMillan Building, rooms 607/609
Below is a list of major equipment than can be used as part of this core
|
Major Equipment |
Location (McMillan) |
1 On-line Reservation |
2 Training required |
|
Olympus FV1000 MPE confocal microscope |
702B |
Yes | Yes |
|
Zeiss LSM800 Confocal microscope with Airyscan |
702A |
Yes | Yes |
|
Olympus BX51 upright Fluorescence microscope |
607 |
Yes | Yes |
|
Olympus BX40 double-headed microscope |
607 |
No |
No |
|
Leica Fluorescence Macroscope |
622 |
No |
No |
|
Leica LMD6000 laser microdissection system |
607 |
Yes | Yes |
|
Bioptigen small animal OCT |
606 |
Yes |
Yes (Guang-Yi) |
|
Sakura Tissue-Tek VIP tissue processor |
609 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Shandon Cryotome E cryostat |
609 |
Yes | Yes (Guang-Yi) |
|
Tissue-Tek Paraffin embedding center |
609 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Leica RM2255 microtome |
609 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Leica Ultracut microtome |
607 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
In situ hybridization oven |
609 |
Yes |
Yes (Guang-Yi) |
|
Image Processing computer with Metamorph software |
603 |
Yes |
No |
1 On-line reservation is available through Facility Online Manager (FOM).
The FOM website address is www.instrumentschedule.com. Our equipment is listed under WUSTL-VISION. You will need to create a user account in order to access the calendar and reserve time on the instrumentation.
2 Only individuals trained in the use of this instrumentation will be allowed to reserve time through the FOM website.
For detailed instructions, contact Steven Bassnett
Fee Schedule (FY25)
Confocal microscopy
To offset the cost of the maintenance contracts on the confocal microscopes there is an annual user fee of $2,800 per lab. This allows unlimited access to the instruments. For occasional users, an hourly fee of $50 is charged.
Histology pricing
| Service | Unit Price ($) |
| Tissue processing/embedding – paraffin (per block) | 1.18 |
| Slides – paraffin – unstained (per slide) | 0.71 |
| Slides – frozen – unstained (per slide) | 2.44 |
| H&E stain only (per slide) | 0.89 |
| Immunocytochemistry stain (with user-provided 1o antibody) per slide | 1.51 |
| TUNEL labeling (to detect apoptotic cells) per slide | 20.29 |