Histology & Imaging

Qualitative Histology
Our great aim in qualitative studies is to gain full insight into the whole organ by systematic sampling and producing tiled image overviews at very high resolution (~100 Mio. pixels). We test appropriate negative and positive controls to assure specificity of the stainings. We are proud to customize staining and IHC procedures, especially in terms of specific double and triple IHC and staining protocols.

Quantitative Histology
The high resolution technique is used for quantifications also. Usual quantifications methods use a uniform systematic random sampling procedure (first cutting the brain into pieces) and optical or physical dissectors with the need of often extensive numbers of counting frames and many weeks of simple counting. Instead we start with systematic random sampling at slicing and cope with great numbers of counting frames by evaluating whole regions by definition of Area of Interests (AOIs). This way usually 5 to 7 sagittal slices are enough to gather reliable individual means, even in pathologies with clear gradients e.g. frontal to dorsal or medial to lateral. This saves a lot of time in gaining experimental results. Furthermore the method proved to be highly reproducible in a great number of cross-study comparisons.
A second hallmark of this way to quantify is to count as independent from the rater as possible. For this purpose we use sophisticated counting macros that constantly guarantee the uniform use of measurement parameters like restrictions, calibration, threshold or eventual enhancement. Also data export and all data manipulations (e.g. relativize to region volume) are rater independent which reduces probable human failure. Object outlines and AOIs are stored together with the image and can be reloaded as overlay on the original raw data image. This is to land at a fully transparent quantification procedure for the customer.

Expertise
We have experience in quantification of plaques, Tau and alpha-synuclein pathologies, inflammation, microhemorrhages, myelin sheath thickness, proliferation and synaptic markers and many more. We tested customer produced antibodies and characterized mice of different genotypes, from internal and external sources.

We are pleased to customize your histological investigations.

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