Histology studies the microscopic structure of biological tissues and involves processing and staining biological specimens for visual analysis. These staining methods require specialized skills that come only with hands-on experience. Histological work is also time-consuming, expensive and often constrained by limited sample quantities. As a result, principal investigators frequently face difficulty maintaining trained operators as students and technical staff rotate in and out of the lab. Histology cores offer a solution.
This edition of the Research Resource Nexus features one of the histology cores available within the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences.
Research Histology (RH)
Research Histology (RH), a Pitt Biospecimen Core program, provides full histological support services for human and nonhuman, fixed or frozen tissue samples. Available services for fixed and/or frozen tissues include:
- Processing, embedding (FFPE)
- Routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining
- Histochemical staining
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining
- Various microtomy sectioning protocols (including scroll or thick sections)
RH staff can also mount sections on researcher-provided specialty slides, like laser capture microscopy or spatial biology.
IHC staining services
- are available for fixed or frozen sections,
- are performed with automated stainers for robust and consistent results,
- provide results in a clear signal with a low background, and
- can run multiplex configurations (up to three antibodies per slide).
Specialty RH services include
- evaluation and titration of novel IHC antibodies,
- terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end label (TUNEL) assay for detecting apoptosis,
- tissue microarrays for 0.6, 1.0 and 2.0 biopsy cores (designed to researcher specifications),
- organoid processing and microtomy,
- air-liquid interface processing, and
- technical work with minuscule samples, such as Drosophila and zebrafish embryos.
Tissue microarrays are ordered arrangements of biopsy specimens bound together and mounted as a single block for sectioning, mounting and staining. When appropriate for the specimen type, this simultaneous analysis of protein expression using IHC increases staining consistency and processing efficiency and provides more robust data at lower cost.
As with all Pitt Biospecimen Core services, RH prioritizes customer service and offers customizable histology services to meet project needs. To access RH services, contact Tony Green, or make a request through iLab. Sample drop-off is available at Alan Magee Scaife Hall, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital and UPMC Shadyside.
Testimonials & Selected Projects
Eickelberg’s lab uses RH services extensively in their studies of idiopathic lung fibrosis in a mouse model. Lab member Molly Mozurak finds the iLab service request system easy to use and values the ability to see the estimated cost upfront.
“The core is very diligent about checking the accuracy of requests—they always call or email to check if the service request is correct before proceeding,” says Mozurak.
Mozurak also appreciates the ease of dropping off fixed tissues in ethanol after placing an order and collecting unstained slides and remaining tissue blocks once the service is complete.
Shair uses RH services for a customized project that involves optimizing FFPE embedding and sectioning of 3D nasopharyngeal cultures.
“Tony Green and his team have delivered exceptional service and high-quality FFPE sectioned slides of pseudostratified airway epithelium and stratified epithelium differentiated from primary conditionally reprogrammed cells of the nasopharynx,” says Shair.
This original work has opened new avenues of research for exploring the histopathology of Epstein-Barr virus infection in the mucosal epithelia. The work has resulted in multiple publications, including a Bio-protocol manuscript with the RH services team.¹
Cancer neuroscience is an emerging and exciting field exploring the impact of neurons and neuron signaling in solid tumor progression. Many of the studies in Scheff’s lab involve characterizing types of peripheral nerves that innervate head and neck tumors, like sensory, sympathetic and motor nerves.
“RH at the Pitt Biospecimen Core has been essential in troubleshooting and optimizing antibodies in oral cavity tissues. With their help, we have been able to visualize nerve innervation in the tongue and differentiate between sympathetic and sensory nerve types as they surround and enter the tumor tissue. Now we can pioneer studies targeting the peripheral nervous system to modulate the interaction between tumors and nerves, confirming innervation changes with immunohistochemistry.” -Scheff.
Watch the Pitt Biospecimen Core introductory video, which includes RH.
1. Ziegler P, Reznik AS, Kitchloo SP, Wang E, Lee SE, Green A, Myerburg MM, Sample CE, Shair KHY. Three-dimensional Models of the Nasopharynx for the Study of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection. Bio Protoc. 2022 Mar 20;12(6):e4365. doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.4365. PMID: 35434197; PMCID: PMC8986362