Core Director

Herbert "Skip" Virgin, MD, PhD
Campus Box 8118
314-362-9223
314-362-4096 (fax)

Core lab contacts:

Histopathology Lab:
Autumn Watson
Campus Box 8118
314-362-7468

Lab Location:
4th floor West Building

Electron Microscopy Facility:
Karen Green
Campus Box 8118
314-362-7462
314-362-4096 (fax)

Lab Location:
Room 4715 West Building

 

Morphology Core

The purpose of the Morphology and Bioimaging Core is to improve the efficiency of diabetes-related research through provision of services that optimize the investigational capacity of DRTC members. Many issues fundamental to understanding the etiology and consequences of diabetes are best understood at the level of tissue pathology and cellular architecture and function.

The Morphology and Bioimaging Core provides efficient and effective services to investigators for the analysis of tissues and cells. Over the past nine years, by changes in staffing, significant investment in new equipment, extensive training, and development of improved communications methods, we have upgraded many functions of the Morphology and Bioimaging Core.

The Electron Microscopy Facility been developed over last year in response to interest and need indicated by DRTC members on a center-wide survey. This provides an example of the flexibility and responsiveness of the DRTC as a dynamic support of diabetes research at WUMS.

Histopathology Lab----Core Services

  • Standard hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining of paraffin imbedded tissue sections.
  • Also includes cutting and staining of frozen sections, as well as the generation of unstained paraffin imbedded sections for immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization
  • A number of special stains are now available through the Core.
  • Expertise in the sectioning of whole mouse embryos has been developed-essential for evaluation of new knockout and transgenic mice that are central for diabetes research.

Electron Microscopy Facility----Core Services

  • Technical services include tissue processing and embedding
  • Preparation of one-micron thick toluidine blue stained sections
  • Routine transmission electron microscopy for cell culture and tissue specimens,
  • Immunoelectron microscopy of tissue and purified tissue preparations
  • A digital EM camera provides large numbers of images simply and with little expense
  • Services rendered by the EM Core facility also include advising investigators what type of EM analysis was likely to be useful for their experimental needs, and this is provided free of charge.