Microscopy Imaging and Histology

The Penn State College of Medicine's Imaging Core (C1724-C1730) is a campus-wide core facility which supports the research of investigators and their trainees. It provides all levels of technical support and consultation for researchers needing imaging of cells and tissues. The facility furnishes techniques and instrumentation to investigators/laboratory personnel for research and training.

Please notify us of any publications resulting from the use of our instrumentation and services.  See Recent Publications list

Equipment

Confocal Microscopes (C1730)

NEW! January 2013: A Leica SP8 Confocal with white light illumination allows maximal visibility of any fluor through its ability to use any combination of Excitation and Emission Maxima wavelengths. This microscope is equipped for fully live-cell imaging, and also has both a standard Argon laser plus a 405 nm near UV laser line in addition to the white light laser source.

A second available confocal is our Leica TCS SP2 AOBS confocal microscope with eight different laser lines: 405, 458, 476, 488, 496, 514, 543, and 633 nm; with an inverted stage microscope fitted with optional live cell stage heater and CO2 chamber; software for FRAP and FRET experiments, 3D reconstructions, and many other types of confocal analyses.

Deconvolution Upright Fluorescence Microscopy (moving to C1728, Spring 2013)

A DeltaVision Elite microscope system, plus an upright fluorescence microscope with a Retiga Exi high-speed CCD camera with QED software for image acquisition and Huygens software, are available for Deconvolution Microscopy.

Services and Fees

To be trained on the Confocal Microscope, please contact Dr. Thomas Abraham at (717) 531-0003 x285486 or at tabraham1@hmc.psu.edu. After you are certified on the instrument, you may schedule instrument time through our Scheduling Calendar or through Wade Edris (717) 531-0003 x284149, or wedris@hmc.psu.edu). Training is provided free of charge. Use of the instrument is $35.00 per hour. (effective 7/1/11)

To be trained on the Deconvolution Upright Fluorescence Microscope, please contact Dr. Thomas Abraham at  x285486 or at tabraham1@hmc.psu.edu. After you are certified on the instrument, you may schedule instrument time through our Scheduling Calendar or through Wade Edris (717) 531-0003 x284149, or wedris@hmc.psu.edu). Training is provided free of charge. Use of the deconvolution instrument is currently $5.00 per hour.

To be trained to do Deconvolution using the Huygens Software, Dr. Thomas Abraham at  x285486 or at tabraham1@hmc.psu.edu. After you are certified on the instrument, you may schedule instrument time through our Scheduling Calendar or through Wade Edris (717) 531-0003 x284149, or wedris@hmc.psu.edu). Use of this service and training are provided free of charge.

The Data Processing Center includes Leica Lite (an abbreviated form of Leica software assisting in data analysis), and Adobe Photoshop software. In addition, in Jan 2013 we installed the Imaris 3D-4D Image Analysis Software package. Please reserve computer time on our Scheduling Calendar, or contact Wade Edris (717)531-0003 x284149, or wedris@hmc.psu.edu). This service is currently provided free of charge.

All Rules, Regulations, and Procedures for using any Microscopy Imaging Facility Instruments or Services are contained in the Microscopy Imaging Standard Operating Procedures Manual, a hard-copy of which is located next to each microscope. The Manual (MS Word document) may also be downloaded by clicking here.

Contact Us

Dr. Thomas Abraham
Director, Microscopy Imaging Core Facility
Phone 717-531-0003 x285486
Email tabraham1@psu.edu

Wade Edris
Lab Manager, Senior Research Technician, Light Microscopy
C1730
Phone (717) 531-0003 x284149
Email wedris@hmc.psu.edu

Roland Myers
Lab Manager
Office & Lab C1727
Phone (717) 531-4036
Pager (717) 531-0235
Email rlm9@psu.edu

(page still under construction)

A DeltaVision Elite microscope system, plus an upright fluorescence microscope with a Retiga Exi high-speed CCD camera (with QED software for image acquisition and Huygens Algorithm software for deconvolution of images), are available for Deconvolution Microscopy.

 

The Penn State College of Medicine's Electron Microscopy Laboratory is a campus-wide core facility which supports the research of investigators and their trainees. It provides all levels of technical support and consultation for researchers needing routine transmission electron microscopy. The facility furnishes techniques and instrumentation to investigators/laboratory personnel for research and training.

Services and Fees

Transmission electron microscopy

Available times for sample analysis can be seen on our Scheduling Calendar, but all sample analysis arrangements should be made directly through Roland Myers rlm9@psu.edu, (717) 531-4036

• Biological specimen fixation, dehydration, and embedding (in epoxy resin )
• Ultra thin sectioning and staining
• 1 micron epoxy resin sections for light microscopic correlation with EM
• Negative staining
• Coating grids with formvar

The above services are charged at an hourly rate of $39.00. Assisted acquisition of images with the Electron Microscope is charged at $82.00 per hour, while independent use of the instrument (after training and certification) is charged at $43 per hour. Please contact Roland Myers at 717-531-4036 or rlm9@psu.edu to arrange for services.

Equipment

• JEOL JEM1400 Digital Capture Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)
• Sorvall Mt-2B ultramicrotomes
• Durst enlarger
• Negative Scanner

Policies and Procedures

Processing of tissue is provided by EM staff or may be conducted by individual investigators / laboratory personnel ( either alone or with assistance from EM staff ). An EM staff person is available to operate the electron microscope and record images. Training is also available on the electron microscope for those investigators who prefer to do their own scoping. The training includes loading samples and instruction on focusing and image recording. Training is provided at no cost.

All Rules, Regulations, and Procedures for using any Microscopy Imaging Facility Instruments or Services are contained in the Microscopy Imaging Standard Operating Procedures Manual, a hard-copy of which is located next to each microscope. The Manual (MS Word document) may also be downloaded by clicking here.

Contact Us

Roland Myers
Lab Manager, Senior Research Support Associate
Room (Office and Lab) C1727
Phone 717-531-4036
Pager 717-531-0235
Email rlm9@psu.edu
 

(page still under construction)

CryoEM Microscopy and Tomography

Possible available times for sample analysis can be seen on our Scheduling Calendar, but all sample analysis consultations and arrangements should be made directly through Bob Ashley rashley@hmc.psu.edu, (717) 531-0003 ext. 289256

Our JEOL 2100 CryoEM produces images of high-resolution for Single Particle Reconstructions, from structures

• As small as proteins
• As large as whole cells and subcellular environments
• can capture dynamic complexes
• Samples in solution are vitirified, preserving biologically relevant structures

The JEOL 2100's Tilt Stage and SerialEM software also enable 3D Tomography

NOTICE: July 2008 The Histology Facility has moved to room C7716 to become part of the new Morphologic and Molecular Pathology Research Lab. All services continue to be offered as they were previously; the new location means that additional consultations with trained pathologists are now available to researchers.

The Penn State College of Medicine's Histology Laboratory is a campus-wide core facility that supports the research of investigators and their trainees. The lab provides various histological instruments and technical support for researchers who need to do cellular work in their research. The facility furnishes techniques, a full range of histological equipment, chemicals and dyes to investigators and laboratory personnel for research.

For more information on Histology fees and current capacities, view the Morphologic and Molecular Pathology Core Research Lab page. 

Please contact Kang Li at x5876 or kxl30@psu.edu to arrange histology work.

Equipment

• 2 Leica Cryocut 1800 Cryostats
• Histomatic Tissue processor
• Tissue Embedding System
• Paraffin microtome
• Sliding microtome (for thick brain sections up to 200 mm)
• Staining facility for Hematoxylin and Eosin staining

Contact Us

Dr. Kang Li
Lab Manager, Coordinator Anatomical Histology Srvc Lab
Room C7716
Phone (717) 531-5876
Email kxl30@psu.edu

 

Recent Publications using our Microscopy Facilities

Confocal Microscopy & EM

Harris,J.V., Bohr, T.M., Stracener, C., Landmesser,M.E., Torres, V., Mbugua, A., Moratz, C., Stoute, J.  Sequential Plasmodium chabaudi and Plasmodium berghei infections provide a novel model of severe malarial anemia.  (pending) Infect. Immun. Sept 2012

Starkey HD, Van Kirk CA, Imperio C, Rountree CB, Kale V, Serfass J, Sonntag WE, Freeman WM. (2012) Induction of neuronal major histocompatibilitycomplex class I and paired immunogobulin-like receptor B pathway in hippocampus with aging and cognitive decline. J Molecular Neuroscience Epub ahead of print

VanGuilder HD, Bixler GV, Sonntag WE, Freeman WM. (2012) Hippocampal expression of myelin-associated inhibitors of neuronal plasticity is induced specifically with age-related deficits of spacial learning and memory. J. Neurochemistry 121:77-98

Correll SJ, Schubert MH, Grigoryev SA (2012) Short nucleosome repeats impose rotational modulations on chromatin fiber folding. EMBO Journal, 31(10), 2416-26

VanGuilder HD, Bixler GV, Brucklacher RM, Farley JA, Yan H, Warrington JP, Sonntag WE, Freeman WM. (2011)   Concurrent hippocampal induction of MHC II pathway components and glial activation with advanced aging is not correlated with cognitive impairment. J Neuroinflammation 2011; 8:183

Han J., Meckes Jr DG, Baird NL, Wills JW. (2011) Interaction and interdependent packaging of tegument protein UL11 and glocoprotein E of herpes simplex virus. Journal of Virology 85:9437-9466  

VanGuilder HD, Farley JA, Yan H, Van Kirk CA, Mitschelen MC, Sonntag WE, Freeman WM. (2011)  Hippocampal dysregulation of synaptic plasticity-associated proteins with age-related cognitive decline.  Neurobiology of Disease ;43:201-212

Ning X, Nguyen D, Mentzer L, Adams C, Lee H, Ashley R, Hafenstein S, Hu JM (2011) Secretion of genome-free hepatitis B virus-single strand blocking model for virion morphogenesis of para-retrovirus. PLoS Pathogens, 7(9):e1002255 Epub 2011 Sep 22

Devraj K, Klinger ME, Myers RL, Mokashi A, Hawkins RA, Simpson IA. (2011) Glut-1 glucose transporters in the blood -brain barrier: differential phosphorylation J Neurosci Res. 89(12):1913-25. doi: 10.1002/jnr.22738. Epub 2011 Sep 9. PMID: 21910135

Kline CL. Irby RB. (2011) The pro-apoptotic protein Prostate Apoptosis Response Protein-4 (Par-4) can be activated in colon cancer cells by treatment with Src inhibitor and 5-FU. Apoptosis. 16(12):1285-94

Ongeri, EM, Anyanwu O, Reeves WB, Bond JS. (2011) Villin and actin in the mouse kidney brush-border membrane bind to and are degraded by meprins, an interaction that contributes to injury in ischemia-reperfusion. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, In Press August 2011.

Liu Y. Lee SY. Neely E. Nandar W. Moyo M. Simmons Z. Connor JR. (2011) Mutant HFE H63D protein is associated with prolonged endoplasmic reticulum stress and increased neuronal vulnerability. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 286(15):13161-70

Yeh PC, Han J, Chadha P, Meckes DG Jr, Ward MD, Semmes OJ, Wills JW. (2011) Direct and specific binding of the UL16 tegument protein of herpes simplex virus to the cytoplasmic tail of glycoprotein E.  J Virol. 85(18):9425-36. PMID: 21734044 

Hazard SW, Myers RL, Ehrlich HP. (2011) Demonstrating collagen tendon fibril segments involvement in intrinsic tendon repair. Exp Mol Pathol. 91(3):660-3. Epub 2011 Aug 7. PMID: 21855540

Smith JB, Alloway KD. (2010) Functional specificity of claustrum connections in the rat: interhemispheric communication between specific parts of motor cortex. J Neurosci15;30(50):16832-44 2010 Dec 15

Alloway KD, Smith JB, Beauchemin KJ. (2010)  Quantitative analysis of the bilateral brainstem projections from the whisker and forepaw regions in rat primary motor cortex. J Comp Neurol.15;518(22):4546-66

Liu X. Ryland L. Yang J. Liao A. Aliaga C. Watts R. Tan SF. Kaiser J. Shanmugavelandy SS. Rogers A. Loughran K. Petersen B. Yuen J. Meng F. Baab KT. Jarbadan NR. Broeg K. Zhang R. Liao J. Sayers TJ. Kester M. Loughran TP Jr. (2010) Targeting of survivin by nanoliposomal ceramide induces complete remission in a rat model of NK-LGL leukemia. Blood. 116(20):4192-4201

Gudleski N, Flanagan JM, Ryan EP, Bewley MC, Parent LJ. (2010)  Directionality of nucleocytoplasmic transport of the retroviral gag protein depends on sequential binding of karyopherins and viral RNA.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 107(20):9358-63. Epub 2010 Apr 30. PMID: 2043591

Wang G, Guo X, Diangelo S, Thomas NJ, Floros J. (2010) Humanized SFTPA1 and SFTPA2 transgenic mice reveal functional divergence of SP-A1 and SP-A2: formation of tubular myelin in vivo requires both gene products.  J Biol Chem. 285(16):11998-2010. Epub 2010 Jan 4. PMID: 20048345

Pastor DM, Irby RB, Poritz LS. (2010) Tumor necrosis factor alpha induces p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis expression in colorectal cancer cell lines. Dis Colon Rectum 53(3):257-63. PMID:20173470

Harper, A. L., D. G. Meckes Jr., J. A. Marsh, M. D. Ward, P.-C Yeh, N. L. Baird, C. B. Wilson, O. J. Semmes, and J. W. Wills. (2010). Interaction domains of the UL16 and UL21 tegument proteins of herpes simplex virus. Journal of Virology 84 (6):2963-71 (doi:10.1128/JVI.02015-09). PMID: 20042500

Blake DC Jr., Oliver R. Mikse, Willard M. Freeman, Christopher R. Herzog. (2010) FOXO3a elicits a pro-apoptotic transcription program and cellular response to human lung carcinogen nicotine-derived nitrosaminoketone (NNK). Lung Cancer. 67(1):37-47

Zinnanti WJ, Lazovic J, Griffin K, Skvorak KJ, Paul HS, Homanics GE,  Bewley MC,Cheng KC, LaNoue KF and Flanagan JM. (2009) Dual mechanism of brain injury and novel treatment strategy in maple syrup urine disease. Brain. 132(Pt 4): 903-918.

Meadowcroft MD, Connor JR, Smith MB, Yang QX. (2009) MRI and histological analysis of beta-amyloid plaques in both human Alzheimer's diseae and APP/PS1 transgenic mice.  J Magn Reson Imaging. 29(5):997-1007. PMID:19388095

Jin, Q., Gao, G., and Mulder, K. M. (2009). Requirement of a dynein light chain in TGF_/Smad3 signaling. J. Cell. Physiol. 221: 707-715

Iwona Hirschler-Laszkiewicz , Qin Tong, Kathleen Conrad, Wenyi Zhang, Wesley Flint, Alistair J. Barber, Joseph Y. Cheung, and Barbara A. Miller. (2009) TRPC3 Activation by Erythropoietin is Modulated by TRPC6. JBC 284: 4567-4581

Tomoaki Murakami, Edward A. Felinski, and David A. Antonetti (2009) Occludin Phosphorylation and Ubiquitination Regulate Tight Junction Trafficking and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-induced Permeability. JBC 284: 21036-21046.

Paralikar K, Neuberger T, Matsui J, Barber AJ, Webb A, Clement RS (2009) Feasibility and safety of longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging in rodent model with intracortical micro-wire implants. J. Neural Eng. 6: 034001

Biswas SK. Zhao Y. Nagalingam A. Gardner TW. Sandirasegarane L. PDGF- and insulin/IGF-1-specific distinct modes of class IA PI 3-kinase activation in normal rat retinas and RGC-5 retinal ganglion cells. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 49(8):3687-98, 2008 Aug.

Alloway KD, Olson ML, Smith JB. (2008) Contralateral corticothalamic projections from MI whisker cortex: potential route for modulating hemispheric interactions. J Comp Neurol 510(1):100-16

Jin, Q., Gao, G., and Mulder, K. M. (2008) Involvement of km23 dynein light chain in TGFbeta signaling. Transforming Growth Factor-beta in Cancer Therapy, Vol. 1: Basic and Clinical Biology, pp. 169-184, Humana Press, Totowa, NJ.

Kenney, S., Lochmann, T., Schmid, C., Parent, L. (2008) Intermolecular interactions between retroviral Gag proteins in the nucleus. J Virol, 82(2):683-691. PMID:17977961

Yu S., Stahl E., Li Q., Ouyang A. (2008) Antigen inhalation induces mast cells and eosinophils infiltration in the guinea pig esophageal epithelium involving histamine-mediate pathway. Life Sciences 82:324-330. 

Jung Yul Lim, Michael C. Shaughnessy, Zhiyi Zhou, Hyeran Noh, Erwin A. Vogler, Henry J. Donahue. (2008) Surface energy effects on osteoblast spatial growth and mineralization. Biomaterials. 29:1776-1784. Use of Imaging Core not cited

Reeves BW, Kwon O, Ramesh G. (2008) Netrin-1 and kidney injury. II. Netrin-1 is an early biomarker of acute kidney injury. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 294:731-738. Use of Imaging Core not cited

Wang W, Reeves WB, Ramesh G. (2008) Netrin-1 and kidney injury. I. Netrin-1 protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury of the kidney. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 294:739-747. Use of Imaging Core not cited

Seaton KE, Smith CD. (2008) N-Myristoyltransferase isozymes exhibit differential specificity for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag and Nef. Journal of General Virology. 89:288–296. Use of Imaging Core not cited

Stover TC, Kim YS, Lowe TL and Kester M. (2008) Thermoresponsive and Biodegradable Linear-Dendritic Nanoparticles for Targeted and Sustained Release of a Pro-apoptotic Drug. Biomaterials 29 (3): 359-369.

Brett E. Phillips, Limary Cancel, John M. Tarbell, and David A. Antonetti (2008) Occludin Independently Regulates Permeability under Hydrostatic Pressure and Cell Division in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells. IOVS 2008, 49:2568-2576

Gastinger MJ, Kunselman AR, Conboy EE, Bronson SK, Barber AJ (2008) Dendrite remodeling and other abnormalities in the retinal ganglion cells of Ins2Akita diabetic mice. IOVS, 49: 2635-2642

VanGuilder HD, Brucklacher RM, Patel K, Ellis RW, Freeman WM, Barber AJ (2008) Diabetes downregulates presynaptic proteins and reduces basal synapsin 1 phosphorylation in rat retina. European Journal of Neuroscience 28: 1-11

Bylander J, Li Q, Ramesh G, Zhang B, Reeves WB, Bond J. (2008) Targeted disruption of the meprin metalloproteinase beta gene protects against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. Mar;294(3):F480-90. Epub 2008 Jan 2

Xu Y, Ola MS, Berkich DA, Gardner, TW, Barber, AJ, Palmiere, F, Hutson SH, LaNoue KF. (2007)Energy sources for neurotransmission in the retina: absence of the aspartate/glutamate carrier produces reliance on glycolysis in glia. J. Neurochem., 101: 120-131. Use of Imaging Core not cited

Scheifele LZ, Kenney, SP, Cairns, TM. Craven, RC. Parent, LJ. (2007) Overlapping roles of the Rous sarcoma virus Gag p10 domain in nuclear export and virion core morphology. J Virol. 81(19):10718-28

Spidel, J. L., C. B. Wilson, R. C. Craven, and J. W. Wills. (2007) Genetic analysis of the beta-hairpin loop of the Rous sarcoma virus capsid protein. Journal of Virology 81:1288-1296. Use of Imaging Core not cited

Meckes, D. G., and J. W. Wills. (2007) Dynamic interactions of tegument protein UL16 with the capsid of herpes simplex virus. Journal of Virology 81:13028–13036. Use of Imaging Core not cited

O’Regan, K. J., M. A. Murphy, M. A. Bucks, J. W. Wills, and R. J. Courtney. (2007) Incorporation of the herpes simplex virus type 1 tegument protein VP22 into the virus particle is independent of interaction with VP16. Virology 369:263-280. Use of Imaging Core not cited

Tagaram HRS, Wang G, Umstead TM, Mikerov AN, Thomas NJ, Graff GR, Hess JC, Thomassen MJ, Kavuru MS, Phelps DS, Floros J. (2007) Characterization of a human surfactant protein A1 (SP-A1) gene-specific antibody; SP-A1 content variation among individuals of varying age and pulmonary health. AJP-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiol. 292: L1052-L1063. Use of Imaging Core not cited

Jin, Q., Ding, W, and Mulder, K.M. (2007) Requirement for the dynein light chain km23-1 in a Smad2-dependent TGFß signaling pathway. J. Biol. Chem., 282: 19122-19132.

Maines LW, French KJ, Wolpert EB, Antonetti DA, Smith CD. (2006) Pharmacologic Manipulation of Sphingosine Kinase in Retinal Endothelial Cells: Implications for Angiogenic Ocular Diseases. IOVS. 47: 5022-5031. Use of Imaging Core not cited

Gastinger MJ, Singh RSJ, Barber AJ. (2006) Loss of cholinergic and dopaminergic amacrine cells in streptozotocin-diabetic rat and Ins2Akita diabetic mouse retinas. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 47:3143–3150. Use of Imaging Core not cited

Santiago AR, Rosa SC, Santos PF, Cristóvão AJ, Barber AJ, Ambrósio AF. (2006) Elevated glucose changes the expression of ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits and impairs calcium homeostasis in retinal neural cells. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 47: 4130-4137. Use of Imaging Core not cited

Loomis, J. S., R. J. Courtney, and J. W. Wills. (2006)Packaging determinants of the UL11 tegument protein of herpes simplex virus type-1. Journal of Virology 80:10534-10541.. Use of Imaging Core not cited

Woll NL, Heaney JD, Bronson SK. (2006) Osteogenic nodule formation from single embryonic stem cell-derived progenitors. Stem Cells and Development. 15:865-879.

Contact Us

Dr. Alistair Barber
Director, Microscopy & Histology Core Facility
Phone (717) 531-6506
Email abarber@psu.edu

Wade Edris
Lab Manager, Senior Research Technician
C3706
Phone (717) 531-1157
Email wedris@hmc.psu.edu

Roland Myers
Lab Manager
Office C3702D
Lab C3707 & C3709
Phone (717) 531-4036
Pager (717) 531-0235
Email rlm9@psu.edu

 

(Page still under construction)

Confocal Microscopy - $35 per hour for the SP2 (fees for the new SP8 will be determined after a brief trial period)

CryoEM Microscopy and Tomography (fees will be determined after a brief trial period)

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) fees:

• Sample Preparation services - $39 per hour
• Assisted TEM Image Acquisition - $82 per hour
• Independent (after training/certification) TEM Image Acquisition - $43 per hour

Deconvolution Microscopy $5 per hour - fees not yet established for the DeltaVision Elite system

Image analysis 

• Imaris (Bitplane) software fees will be established after a brief trial period
• For CryoEM analyses, fees will be established in spring 2013

Directors

Thomas Abraham, PhD Director, Microscopy Imaging Core Facility (717) 531-0003 x285486 tabraham1@hmc.psu.edu

Susan Hafenstein, PhD Faculty Director, CryoEM (717) 531-0003, Ext 281269 shafenstein@hmc.psu.edu

 

Lab Managers

Wade Edris Imaging Core Facility (Confocal) Room C1730 (717) 531-0003 x284149 wedris@hmc.psu.edu   Bob Ashley CryoEM Facility Room C1724 (717) 531-0003, Ext. 289256 bobashley@psu.edu

Roland Myers Senior Research Support Associate Electron Microscopy Core Facility Room (Lab) C1727 (717) 531-4036 rlm9@psu.edu