Who we are
Where we are
Institute of Human Anatomy, Department of Medicine and Surgery, 14 Gramsci Street, transverse 3C - 1st floor (SIPE code 1004)
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What we do
The Microscopic Anatomy and Flow Cytometry Laboratory is a teaching space dedicated to the study of the structure and function of cells and tissues using advanced microscopy and cellular analysis techniques.
Through guided hands-on activities, students learn the principles of tissue organization and cell biology, developing skills useful for understanding physiological and pathological mechanisms and for interpreting experimental data in the biomedical field.
The laboratory supports hands-on teaching and curricular internships in the Medicine, Pharmaceutical, Veterinary and Medical biotechnologies, Biotechnologies and Translational biomedical sciences curricula.
Activities include exercises in microscopic anatomy, study of hemolymphopoietic organs, and analysis of cell populations by flow cytometry. Students also learn methods of cell culture and differentiation of stem cells, integrating morphological observation with functional analysis.
The laboratory is also used for practical internships and activities aimed at the preparation of experimental theses, allowing an initial approach to biomedical research.
Exercises are carried out in small groups under the guidance of professors and tutors and involve direct microscopic observation, sample preparation and interpretation of results.
The activities provide familiarity with the main Biomedical laboratory techniques, including:
- histochemical techniques and light and fluorescence microscopy
- flow cytometry for the identification of cell populations
- in vitro cell culture and modulation of gene expression
- DNA and RNA extraction and PCR techniques
- western blot and protein analysis
The hands-on approach fosters the integration of morphological, functional, and molecular knowledge, developing skills useful for clinical practice and experimental research.
Access to the laboratory takes place as part of planned course unit teaching activities and curricular internships.
Sessions are organized in groups led by professors and technical staff.
For the conduct of individual internships or experimental thesis activities, access is arranged with the professors in charge of the laboratory.
Techniques in use
- Histochemical techniques
- Light and fluorescence microscopy
- Flow cytometry
- In vitro cell culture and modulation of gene expression (siRNA, shRNA, plasmid DNA)
- RNA and DNA nucleic acid extraction
- PCR
- Western blot
- Isolation of specific cell populations from human tissues
Main instrumentation
- 13-color flow cytometer (CytoFLEX, Beckman Coulter)
- Binocular optical microscopes (YS100, Nikon): 18 single stations
- QuantStudio 1 real time instrument (Thermo Fischer Scientific)
- Nonadrop Ultra (Thermo Fisher)
- Chemidoc Imaging System (Biorad)
- Fluorescence microscope (Eclipse 80i, Nikon)
- Cytospin (Thermo Fischer Scientific)
- Rotary microtome for optical microscopy
- Ultramicrotome
- Cell separator (Automacs Pro, Miltenyi Biotec)
- Victor V3 multilabel plate reader counter (Perkin Elmer)
- Thermocycler for real time PCR (StepOne, Thermo Fischer Scientific)
- Ultracentrifuge (J20-XP, Beckman Coulter)
