Histology & Electron Microscopy (TEM & SEM)

TIME Core Room 1605

The TIME Core Histology Laboratory provides comprehensive tissue processing, sectioning, staining and electron microscopy services to support both clinical and research applications.

Led by Oliver Jones, the laboratory supports a wide range of tissue-based workflows, from standard paraffin and frozen sectioning to special stains and ultrastructural analysis. The facility is also integrated with TIME Core’s molecular biology, microscopy and flow cytometry platforms to support advanced spatialomics research.

Histology Capabilities

The laboratory provides tissue processing and analysis services using a full Leica histology suite and specialized electron microscopy equipment.

Services and equipment include:

Tissue processing and embedding – Leica HistoCore Suite
Frozen sectioning – Leica CM1860 Cryostat
Routine histology sectioning – Leica Multicut Microtome
Ultrathin sectioning for TEM – Leica Ultracut EM UC7
Standard and special staining*
Transmission electron microscopy – DeLong LVEM25E
Scanning electron microscopy – DeLong LVEM25E
STEM and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS)

*Special stains: Sirius Red, Masson Trichrome, Periodic Acid Schiff's (PAS), Reticulium, Martius Scarlet Blue, Aniline Blue and Grocott's Methenamine silver etc.

Leica HistoCore PEARL

The HistoCore PEARL tissue processor combines a compact design with the essential features needed in the laboratory: User safety and ease-of-use. This fully enclosed tissue processor provides high-end reliability with a new retort design, and allows safe and reliable conventional processing with a 200 cassette per run capacity.

Leica HistoCore Arcadia

The HistoCore Arcadia modular tissue embedding system incorporates two separate components, the Arcadia H heated embedding module and the Arcadia C cold plate. The independent modules offer the flexibility to arrange the embedding workflow in the direction that best suits your laboratory.

The HistoCore Arcadia H paraffin dispenser allows for simple operation and precise control; resulting in improved quality, a smooth workflow, reliability and speed of your embedding work.

HistoCore Arcadia C is a cold plate holding more than 60/65 cassettes on its large working surface. Cooling efficiency is important, so the cold plate was designed with an environment adaptive control module to make sure the operating temperature is always stabilized at -6 °C.

Leica CM1860 Cryostat

The Leica CM1860 is your perfect assistant for high-quality, fast and safe sectioning.This high-throughput cryostat delivers diagnostic confidence by reliably producing quality sections to help provide an accurate diagnosis - even with the most complicated tissue types.

Staff near the cryostat is protected by the antimicrobial nano-silver coating, AgProtect,which provides outstanding safety by reducing exposure to surface pathogens. AgProtect covers the cryostat’s external upper surfaces and constantly protects individuals in the work area by penetrating the membranes of microbes to prevent replication.

The unique premium blade holder safety features combined with the ergonomics of a designated finger guard, blade ejector and palm rest for brush technique users improve safety and comfort while sectioning.

Leica Multicut Microtome

When you need the precision and speed of manual sectioning with the efficiency benefits of a semi-automated setup, the HistoCore MULTICUT saves the day. The new generation of microtomes from Leica Biosystems is built upon our 145+ year heritage of market-leading microtome design. Combining the speed of a manual microtome with the precision of motorized specimen feeding, MULTICUT helps you get consistent, reproducible sections.

Delong LVEM 25E | Click here for more details!

The LVEM 25E is a compact, all-in-one low-voltage transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electrom microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). This system allows researchers to examine cellular and subcellular structures at substantially higher resolution than conventional light microscopy.

Electron microscopy may be particularly useful for applications involving viruses, extracellular vesicles and other ultrastructural features that cannot be resolved through standard histological imaging.

Choosing an approach

Histology – best suited to examining overall tissue architecture, localization of markers and patterns of cellular infiltration.
Electron microscopy – best suited to examining cellular ultrastructure and nanoscale features at higher resolution.

Histology samples

The laboratory can work with tissue from a range of animal sources. Samples may be submitted as fixed tissue ready for processing or as pre-prepared formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks.

Researchers are encouraged to contact the laboratory for guidance on fixation protocols for their specific application.

Frozen samples

Projects requiring frozen sectioning should be discussed in advance to determine appropriate preservation and transportation requirements.

Important: Samples containing high-risk pathogens cannot be accepted for frozen sectioning, but may be accepted as fixed samples for FFPE processing where appropriate.

Electron microscopy samples

Samples for transmission electron microscopy may include small tissue samples or cell pellets. Tissue samples should be no larger than approximately 2 mm3.

Researchers should contact the laboratory in advance to discuss optimal fixation and sample preparation. Samples intended for scanning electron microscopy should also be reviewed with the laboratory to determine suitability.

We are happy to provide you whichever service you require for your histology needs, whether its just cutting and staining or embedding or you need the entire histology service from tissue processing to slide staining. The first step is to contact Oliver Jones and start a discussion about what he can do for you.

FIXED tissue samples need to be brought to QCPU in 10% formalin (4% neutral buffered formalin) at a 1:20 volume*
FRESH tissue samples for frozen sectioning need to simply be kept moist in a saline solution
Please make sure prior to dropping off your samples that they are CLEARLY labelled

*Tissue left in formalin too long can lead to downstream background issues (IHC and IF), it is always best to fix and process as soon as possible.

Integrated Spatialomics Support

The Microscopy Laboratory is integrated with TIME Core’s Genomics & Molecular biology, Spatialomics, Microscopy and Flow cytometry platforms to support advanced spatialomics research.

Using technologies such as Leica Cell DIVE, Leica SpectraPlex and the Leica Aivia software suite, researchers can combine molecular profiling with spatially resolved imaging to study complex tissue and cellular environments.

Pricing and Booking

Pricing

Histology Laboratory services are available at a rate of $120 per hour.

How to book

Contact Oliver Jones directly to discuss your project, sample requirements and scheduling.

Oliver Jones: oj3@queensu.ca

Planning your project

Not sure which tissue preparation or imaging approach you need?

Contact the TIME Core Histology Laboratory before preparing your samples. The team can help determine the most appropriate fixation, sectioning, staining or electron microscopy workflow for your research question.