CMBD CORES AND FACILITIES

HISTOMORPHOMETRY AND MOLECULAR ANALYSES CORE

The Histomorphometry and Molecular Analyses Core (HMAC) provides state-of-the-art histology and histomorphometric analysis of bone samples. The Core is funded through a NIH Metabolic Bone Research Core Center grant.  The present location in the basement of Lyons Harrison Research Building has approximately 2500 square feet of space.  Ultimately, it will move to a newer location, while remaining in close proximity to researchers who utilize our services.

Frozen Section – Mouse tibia Alkaline Phosphatase

Processing bone tissue requires highly specialized techniques, unique equipment, and technical expertise. Histological sections may be obtained on fresh frozen bones, decalcified and paraffin-embedded bones, or on non-decalcified, plastic-embedded bones.

H&E – mouse spine – EDTA decal            metastatic breast cancer

Methyl Methacrylate Goldner’s Trichrome	Methyl Methacrylate von Kossa

The lab can process bones and produce ground sections on specimens which contain implants, by using the Exakt® cutting and grinding system.

Ground section Orthopedic implant	Ground section Methylene blue – Basic fuchsin

Analysis is performed on samples from mouse, rat, rabbit, dog, monkey, and human tissue. Other services include a wide array of special stains and immunohistochemistry, as well as histomorphometrical analysis of the bone sections.

Histomorphometry studies may utilize standard bone histomorphometry (performed using the methods of Parfitt et. al.), or customized templates created for use with our Bioquant® Image Analysis Software. Histomorphometry can be used to estimate cell numbers, positively labeled cells, cell volume, or distance measurements. It can be used to measure the amount of protein present in a band by comparison with the integrated optical density of a known standard.

Four types of primary measurements are usually made—area, length (or perimeter), distance between point or lines, and number. These referents, such as tissue volume, bone volume, bone surface, and osteoid surface are used to derive other indices, such as trabecular number, trabecular thickness, and trabecular separation, as well as numbers of cell types per millimeter of bone surface.

Dynamic measurements are made using unstained sections. Fluorescent measurements are made of single-labeled surface, double-labeled surface, and interlabel width. Applying the interlabel period, it is possible to calculate the Mineral Apposition Rate, as well as formation and resorption rates, and remodeling cycle duration.

Trabecular Bone Brightfield	Trabecular bone (same image) Tetracycline labeled - FITC

Users may choose to be trained by the HMAC staff on the Bioquant® software, and do their own measurements using our software. This enables them to save money, as well has have more “hands-on” in the generation of their data.

Over the past six years, our laboratory has assisted researchers from such diverse departments as Nutrition Science, Pathology, Microbiology, Gerontology, Hematology/Oncology, Biomedical Engineering, Orthopaedics, Neuropathology, Neuroscience, Rheumatology, Dental Biomaterials, Cell Biology and Physics.

All Services to members of the CMBD are available at a modest charge. Outside work will be accepted as time permits, also at a nominal fee.

For more information and to obtain a copy of the “Order Form” contact the Laboratory Manager, Patty Lott, MSCLS, the Core’s Co-Director, Majd Zayzafoon, M.D., Ph.D., or the HMAC Principal Investigator, Gene P. Siegal, M.D., Ph.D.

REQUEST FORM

Patty Lott, MS, MLT, HT(ASCP), Laboratory Supervisor
Email: plott@.uab.edu, Phone: 205-934-2007

Majd Zayzafoon, M.D., Ph.D., Core’s Co-Director
Email: mzayzafoon@uab.edu, phone: 205-934-5574

Gene P. Siegal, M.D., Ph.D., Principal Investigator, HMAC
Email: gsiegal@path.uab.edu; Phone: 205-934-6608