Neuromuscular Histopathology Laboratory

Scientific supervisor:Pending appointment

Technical supervisors:

• Dr. Maria Federica Bellanova
• Dr.ssa Anna Rita Capozzi

Info and contacts: mail: istoneuro@unipr.it tel: 0521-703592

Affiliating staff:

• Dr.Dr. Bellanova Maria Federica - mail:mariafederica.bellanova@unipr.it tel. 0521-703592
• Doctor Capozzi Anna Rita - mail:annarita.capozzi@unipr.it tel. 0521-703592
• Doctor Saccani Elena - mail:esaccani@ao.pr.it tel. 0521-704100

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The Neuromuscular Histopathology Laboratory is part of the Neurology section and is located on the 3rd floor of the Barbieri Pavilion, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma.

Currently due to COVID-19 health emergency, the Laboratory is temporarily located at the Renal Immunopathology Laboratory, basement, Pav. 27, Ex-Nephrology.

The Neuromuscular Histopathology Laboratory performs histological, immunohistological and molecular Biology analysis in muscle, nerve and skin biopsies of patients with neuromuscular diseases. The Neuromuscular Histopathology Laboratory is referred to biopsies of patients admitted to the departments of the University Hospital of Parma, Fidenza Hospital, AUSL of Piacenza and Az. Osp. of Reggio Emilia.

• The histopathological diagnostics in muscle biopsies is performed in the following neuromuscular disorders: X-linked Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (DMD and BMD); Muscular dystrophies of the cingulate muscles (AD-LGMD:1A, 1B, 1C; AR-LGMD:2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2J); Facio-scapulohumeral dystrophy; Myotonic dystrophy; Myotonic syndromes; Inflammatory myopathies: polymyositis, dermatomyositis, viral myositis, inclusion body myositis etc.; Dysmetabolic myopathies: glycogenosis (type II, III, V, VII), fatty acid metabolism deficiency (carnitine, CPT, and MADD); Mitochondrial myopathies (mitochondrial enzyme deficiency); Congenital myopathies and muscular dystrophies.
• The histopathological diagnosis in sural nerve biopsies is performed in the following neuromuscular diseases: Vasculitic neuropathies; Hereditary motor-sensitive neuropathies; Metabolic neuropathies; Demyelinating neuropathies; Dysimmune neuropathies; Paraneoplastic neuropathies.
• The histopathological diagnosis in skin biopsies is performed in the following neuromuscular diseases: Small fiber neuropathies.

Histological, histochemical, and histoenzymatic reactions on frozen muscle and peripheral nerve tissue; immunohistochemistry on frozen muscle and peripheral nerve tissue, Western Blot on frozen muscle sample, Immunohistochemistry in floating sections of skin fixed in PLP buffer, PolymeraseChain Reaction (PCR) on DNA sample extracted from blood, epoxy resin inclusion of peripheral nerve biopsies, staging and staining of semifinal sections of peripheral nerve biopsies, dissociation of individual nerve fibers by "teasing" method.

Standard "Zeiss" optical microscope, Universal "Nikon" microscope with computer-connected camera and photographic equipment, Cryostat, Centrifuge, Transilluminator, Benchtop power generator, Electroblotting apparatus, Horizontal electrophoretic cell, Vertical electrophoretic cell, Thermocycler, Ultramicrotome, Stereomicroscope.