CORE--MORPHOLOGY CORE

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The main objective of the Morphology Core is to support the Center projects with high-quality and specialized morphological services while achieving net cost effectiveness. The most common types of services to be offered are classified into three categories: 1) standard staining of sections following paraffin embedding of tissues (e.g., hematoxylin and eosin, Sirius red for collagen); 2) special immunohistochemistry for fixed or frozen sections (e.g., inflammatory cells, cytokines, NF-kappaB); and 3) image and morphometric analysis to provide standardized quantitative data. In addition, the Core performs electron microscopic examination of liver and pancreas to identify non-parenchymal liver cells (hepatic and pancreatic stellate cells) or ultrastructural alterations of parenchymal liver and pancreatic acinar cells. Samples that are handled by the Core include liver (Research Project #1,2,3) and pancreas (Research Project #4) tissues; primary cultures of hepatocytes (Research Project #2) and hepatic macrophages (Research Project #3); and isolated pancreatic acini (Research Project #1). Standard and special staining procedures are carried out on these samples after preparation of frozen sections, fixation and embedding, cutting, and mounting on slides. In the case of cell cultures, the cells on chamber slides or cover slips are permeabilized and immunostained. Immunofluorescent or immunoperoxidase staining is performed using specific antibodies against the molecules of interest. Morphometric analysis is performed for quantification of histologic assessment, immunostained proteins or cells by digital imaging analysis using a digital camera and the Nikon Image Analysis system. Quality control is maintained at the Core site, Anatomic Pathology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, that is annually inspected and certified by the College of American Pathology and is under the directorship of the Core Director. During the past 4 years, the Core has served 9 center investigators and 2 non-center investigators. The total number of samples processed by the Core has increased from 624 in 1999 to 2,133 in 2002. It supported the Center research and pilot projects resulting in 29 publications with morphological findings. The Morphology Core continues to make a major contribution to a growth of the center-supported research.