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A Penn State Nittany Lion statue is seen in the courtyard of Penn State College of Medicine in Summer 2016. The statue is in focus toward the right side of the image. Out of focus in the background, green plants and trees are visible in the courtyard.

Molecular and Histopathology Core Services

Learn more about the services provided by the Molecular and Histopathology Core.

Routine Histology – Processing, Embedding, Sectioning, and Hematoxylin and Eosin Staining

Routine Histology microscopic image

  • Fixation and processing of human and animal tissues, as well as cultured cells and tissues Paraffin embedding and sectioning of tissues
  • Embedding and cryostat sectioning of fresh, frozen tissues
  • Routine H&E staining of human and animal tissues, as well as cultured cells and tissues
  • H&E staining for paraffin or frozen sections

Histochemical Stains

Histochemical Stains microscopic image

  • Histochemical staining of paraffin or frozen tissue sections
  • PAS
  • Masson Trichrome
  • Toluidine Blue
  • Gomori’s Aldehyde Fuchsin
  • Safranin O
  • Verhoeff Elastic
  • Cresyl Violet
  • Ability to develop and optimize histochemical stains for any tissue type or staining need

Immunohistochemical Stains

Immunohistochemical Staining microscopic image

  • Immunohistochemical staining oh Human and animal tissues, as well as cultured cells and tissues
  • Ability to validate and develop protocols for any antibody
  • Mouse-on-mouse/rat immunohistochemistry
  • Chromogenic and fluorescent detection methods
  • Dual and triple IHC techniques
  • All IHC performed on an automated Ventana Discovery XT stainer

In situ Hybridization

In Situ Hybridization microscopic image

  • Chromogenic or fluorescent in situ hybridization protocols
  • Ability to develop and optimize protocols for your specific probes
  • All hybridizations protocols performed on an automated Ventana Discovery XT stainer

Tissue Microarray

Tissue Microarray microscopic image

  • Paraffin tissue microarrays (TMAs) can be created with any combination of human tissue, animal tissues
    or cell culture pellets
  • Custom-sized and configured arrays are constructed using the Beecher MTA-I
  • Tissue core sizes can range from 0.6 mm to 2.0 mm, providing from 40 to over 200 sample cores in one
    paraffin block
  • Microarray slides can be stained using a variety of histochemical or immunohistochemical reactions

Laser Capture Microdissection

Laser Capture Microdissection microscopic image

  • Zeiss PALM Microbeam LCM
  • Capable of isolating cells, tissues, or stromal matrix from either frozen and paraffin sections
  • Ideal method to insure the purity of the starting material for downstream proteomic and genomic applications
  • Capable of operating on an RNAse free level to insure high quality samples for genomic studies

Archival FFPE Human Tissue Samples

Archival FFPE Human Tissue Bank image

  • Archival collection consisting of over 40 years of surgical pathology FFPE specimens
  • Searchable database enables the investigator to locate specific patient, tissue or tumor types
  • Ability to collaborate with anatomic pathologists to assist in the identification and selection of study samples along with the interpretation and scoring of results
  • Perfect for use as control tissues, study samples or TMA sources
  • Capable of isolating DNA or RNA from samples

Contact Us

For all technical and project-related questions about the Molecular and Histopathology Core, please contact Marianne Klinger, Research Technician, at mklinger@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-1044.

For lab management questions, please contact David Degraff, PhD, Director, at ddegraff@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.