Electron Microscopy

Technical supervisor: Mrs. Emilia Corradini

Affiliating staff

• Mrs. Emilia Corradini Email: emilia.corradini@unipr.it Phone: +39 0521 904770

The Laboratory of Electron Microscopy of the University of Parma is located at Pavilion 20 Pathological Anatomy/Necroscopy of the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma (PR).

The Laboratory is responsible for the set-up and archiving of ultrastructural preparations obtained with Philips EM208S Electron Microscope. Immunocytochemical reactions are also performed on the same preparations. Ultrastructural image analysis is applied to anatomo-clinical and experimental research activity, teaching and/or to complement anatomo-pathological diagnostic activity.

In the laboratory of the Center for Electron Microscopy, conventional histological preparations are also set up under microscopy and immunohistochemical reactions for experimental research and/or to complement teaching activity.

Main Lines of Research

The Laboratory of Electron Microscopy is concerned with the preparation of ultrastructural specimens for the performance of experimental studies for research, teaching and diagnostic purposes on biological material, mainly in the following areas:

• Heart;
• Lung;
• Renis;
• Liver;
• Pancreas;
• Cultured cells.

Techniques in Use

The Electron Microscopy Laboratory follows an organization that allows planning and monitoring of all stages of analysis to ensure proper execution and full reconstruction of processes, even after the fact.

Processing of material for ultrastructural investigation is complex and is divided into sequential stages of work:

• acceptance and reduction of specimens;
• fixation;
• washing;
• postfixation ;
• dehydration;
• infiltration;
• inclusion in resin and its polymerization;
• trimming;
• cutting and staining of semi-fine sections;
• light microscope observation and field selections for ultrastructural investigation;
• further trimming;
• cutting of ultrafine sections at the ultramicrotome;
• staining of ultrafine sections;
• observation and taking photographs at the Philips EM 208S Electron Microscope;
• archiving of the prepared specimens and photographic material;
• immunogold ultrastructural immunocytochemical reactions.

The activity adheres to specific procedures and operating instructions, accompanied by manuals and documentary material to ensure compliance with technical processes. Procedures, protocols, manuals, reagent safety data sheets and instrument maintenance charts are available to operators directly on the laboratory premises.

Main instrumentation provided