We provide histopathology services to students, faculty, researchers and clinicians at the University at Buffalo and in the larger Western New York community. Our facility can process tissue for paraffin embedding, section paraffin blocks and perform a wide variety of staining techniques.

We have two cryostats for sectioning frozen tissue specimens to facilitate rapid diagnosis, lipid and enzyme demonstration, certain immunohistochemical techniques and immunofluorescence work. We also have a JB-4 microtome for cutting methacrylate-embedded tissues.

We collaborate with, train, advise and provide technical support for individuals in need of histology services for research, teaching or clinical interests. Please call us with questions about sample collection techniques to obtain optimal results from paraffin embedding and frozen section techniques.

This technique allows the preparation of sections as thin as 3 microns for routine and special histochemical staining, immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization, and PCR. Paraffin embedded tissues retain good morphology in archival blocks decades after the tissue was embedded.

Frozen section histology provides rapid results using unfixed tissue for techniques such as fat demonstration, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and enzyme histochemistry. Most routine histologic stains can be performed on frozen tissue as well.

Methacrylate techniques employ plastic resins to accommodate very hard tissue or thin sectioning (1-2 micron). We use glycol methacrylate, a water-soluble acrylic resin which permits application of many traditional histochemical stains. Sectioning requires an advanced skill level, using glass knives and a retracting JB-4 microtome. Please contact us to inquire about the availability of these services.

Our technicians can prepare slides to display multiple sections from a tissue sample. Collecting every section creates a serial section; taking sections at specified depths from a block (e.g., every 50 microns) creates a step section.

• H&E (hematoxylin and eosin): used for general morphology and reference.
• Trichrome stains: show muscle tissue, fibrin, and collagen distinctly, often used to differentiate between fibrous and normal tissue.
• PAS (periodic acid Schiff): a versatile stain, commonly used for polysaccharides, but it can be used for a variety of other tissue components such as mucin, hyaluronic acid, reticulin, fibrin of thrombi, colloid droplets, hyalin of arteriosclerosis, granular cells in renal arterioles, most basement membranes, colloid of pituitary stalks and thyroid tissue.
• Silver stains: primarily used to identify molecules with strong reducing groups (e.g., melanin), to stain carbohydrates (e.g., glycoproteins), or localize cytoplasmic or extra-cytoplasmic structures that absorb silver ions (e.g., secretory granules of neuroendocrine cells).
• Verhoff’s Elastic Stain: selectively stains the elastin fibers in tissue, useful to detect the loss of elasticity (from, e.g., emphysema or arterial thickening).

We can also perform special stains including Congo Red (for amyloid), Alcian Blue (acid mucopolysaccherides), Mucicarmine (mucin), Cresyl Violet (nerve cells and glia), Luxol Fast Blue (myelin), Prussian Blue (iron), and Giemsa and Wright’s (hematopoietic cells).

218 Farber Hall

Monday to Friday
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.