Services
Embedding tissue samples in paraffin
We put your fixed samples in labelled embedding cassettes, do an automated dehydration and paraffininfiltration over night and prepare paraffinblocks on the next day. We have various mould sizes available for pouring the block, adapted to the size of the tissue. We take individual requirements into account when aligning the tissue.
Please note the information about sample preparation in the getting started area.
Embedding tissue samples in freezing medium (cryo)
We embed your samples in tissue freezing medium in labelled cryomolds. We take individual requirements into account when aligning the tissue.
Please note the information about sample preparation in the getting started area.
Preparation of paraffin sections using a microtome and cryosections using a cryostat
The standard section thickness for paraffin sections is 4 µm and for cryosections 10 µm. Two sections per slide are prepared for slides with a histological staining. Unstained sections and IHC have one section.
Different section thicknesses and numbers of sections per slide are available on request.
Automated and manual histological staining of sections
- H&E
- PAS
- Giemsa
- Sirius red
- Oil-Red-O
- Alcian
- Masson-Goldner-Trichrome
- Prussian blue (iron)
In general, all histological stainings can be performed. If you are interested in stainings that are not listed, please contact the Core Managers.
Immunohistochemical staining
The semi-automatic immunohistostainer intelliPATH FLX from Zytomed is used for this purpose. We can perform stainings with DAB (brown) or AP (red) chromogen. Our system works best with rabbit-hosted antibodies. Other hosts are possible, but need an additional secondary antibody. Antibodies must always be provided by the user. All Antibodies need to be established before samples can be stained. A list of already established antibodies is available here. If the desired antibody is not on the list, it needs to be established first.
Antibody establishment
During the establishment process we do the staining with different conditions to get the best staining result. We test different ways of antigen retrival as well as different antibody dilutions and incubation time.
Antibody establishment is very complex, so successful completion cannot be guaranteed. The Core Facility reserves the right to discontinue the establishment after exhausting all available options.
Address
How to find us
Arrival by bus and train or map
From Bonn main station you can take the bus line 600 (direction Ippendorf Altenheim) and 601 (direction Venusberg) to the bus stop “Uniklinikum Nord, Uniklinikum Hauptpforte or Uniklinikum Süd”. Line 630 runs in the Bonn city area without stopping at the main station. Please use the night bus (N5) between midnight and 5:30 a.m.
The Core Facilities thank the German Research Foundation for continuous support.
