The Histology Research Laboratory provides services for the processing, embedding, sectioning, and tinctorial and immunohistochemical staining of tissues. Expertise in the handling of fresh, frozen, and fixed cells and tissues is the building block of the laboratory.

The laboratory primarily serves the faculty and staff of the Department of Pathology, but is available to provide services for a fee to outside investigators.

If you would be interested in utilizing the sevices of the Histology Research Laboratory, please contact Christine Hochstedler, 319-335-8145 and/or fill out the Work Request Form.  You can send the form either via email or bring it with your samples to the lab.

List of Services:

Tissue Processing:

Processing - To include specimen (fresh, frozen, fixed) handling, prep, mounting, machine processing, administrative, clerical, overhead. Embedding Sectioning/Cuts - One cut is the sample material placed onto a slide (or receptacle) from one level (depth) • A deeper level or "step" will be considered another cut even if placed onto same slide • A cut from a different sample placed onto the same slide as original sample will be considered a separate cut.

Tinctorial Staining:

A complete variety of common tinctorial stains are available for use. If a special stain (e.g. not currently offered) is required, we can accommodate most requests.

Immunohistochemical Staining:

Antibody Protocol Workup   Antibody protocol workup (fixed tissues) consists of the following: A)  Three types of antigen unmasking plus one slide without antigen unmasking on formalin fixed tissues or any tissue fixed in a solution that may mask epitopes. B)  Antibody Dilutions   1. One dilution above recommended dilution   2. Recommended dilution   3. One dilution below recommended dilution     Antibody protocol workup (frozen tissues) consists of the following: A)  95% ethanol fixation or fixative of choice B)  Antibody Dilutions   1. One dilution above recommended dilution   2. Recommended dilution   3. One dilution below recommended dilution   Negative controls – protein concentration matched to diluted primary antibody protein concentration. Workup performed on Dako Autostainer unless overnight incubation is recommended. Dako Envision Plus System will be utilized for detection for both protocols.

UI Faculty Rates

Contact Information:

Christine Hochstedler, HT(ASCP)
Research Assistant III
319-335-8145, pager 5161
Email: christine-hochstedler@uiowa.edu

Equipment used in the Laboratory:

Cryostat A freezing microtome that allows the operator to create thin tissue sections from unfixed, fresh tissue.	Automated Tissue Processor Processes fixed tissues through a series of alcohols, xylenes, and paraffin wax, thus enabling the tissue to be thin sectioned for staining and microscopy.
Tissue Embedding Station With the use of metal molds, processed tissue can be placed into permanent paraffin wax blocks.	Rotary Microtome Operator creates thin tissue sections from fixed, processed paraffin-embedded tissues. Section may then be mounted on glass microscope slides for staining.
Automated Immunohistochemistry Stainer Processes up to 48 microscope slides through the complex antibody and detection steps of immunohistochemistry.

Itoh T, Iwashita S, Cohen, MB, Meyerholz DK, Linn, S. Ddb2 is a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor and controls spontaneous germ cell apoptosis. Hum Mol Genet. 16(13):1578-1586, 2007.

Askeland RW, Bromely C and Vasef MA.  Detection of HER-2/neu Gene Amplification Using Chromogenic In Situ Hybridization and Tissue Microarray: Correlation with HER-2/neu Protein Expression Using Immunohistochemistry.  J Histotechnol. 28(1);11-14, March 2005.

Bashir AA, Robinson RA, Benda JA, Smith RB.  Sinonasal adenocarcinoma:  immunohistochemical marking and expression of oncoproteins.  Head Neck. 25(9):763-71, Sept. 2003.

Griffin MC, Robinson RA, Trask DK.  Validation of tissue microarrays using p53 immunohistochemical studies of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.  Mod Pathol. 16:1181-8, 2003.

Radhakrishnan R, Moore SA, and Sluka KA. Unilateral carrageenan injection into muscle or joint induces chronic bilateral hyperalgesia in rats.  Pain. 104:567-577, 2003.

Moore SA, Saito F, Chen J, Michele DE, Henry MD, Messing A, Cohn RD, Ross-Barta SE, Westra S, Williamson RA, Hoshi T, and Campbell KP.  Deletion of brain dystroglycan recapitulates aspects of congenital muscular dystrophy.  Nature. 418:422-425, 2002.

Lessard J, Robinson RA, Hoffman HT.  Differential expression of ras signal transduction mediators in verrucous and squamous cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract.  Arch Pathol Lab Med. 125: 1200-1203, 2001. 

Sluka KA, Kalra A, and Moore SA.  Unilateral intramuscular injections of acidic saline produce a bilateral, long-lasting hyperalgesia.  Muscle Nerve. 24:37-46, 2001.

Lin Y, Rodrigues GD, Turner JF, Vasef MA. Plasmablastic lymphoma of the lung: report of a unique case and review of the literature. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 125(2):282-285, 2001.

Vasef MA, Brynes RK, Sturm M, Bromley C, Robinson RA. Expression of cyclin D1 in parathyroid carcinomas, adenomas, and hyperlasias: a paraffin immunohistochemical study. Mod Pathol. 12(4):412-416, 1999.