Histology Core (HC)

内耳和中耳组织是常规光学和电子显微镜中最难正确固定、定位和切片的组织之一。然而，这种方法对于正确了解内耳和中耳的发育和衰老、功能、疾病过程和恢复至关重要。组织学核心的目标是提供必要的培训和/或服务，使任何研究人员能够定期检查内耳和相关结构。感兴趣的组织包括但不限于感觉上皮、骨骼和神经系统。该中心为冰冻组织或石蜡包埋组织以及甲基丙烯酸酯和环氧树脂提供全方位的组织学、培训和设备使用。电子显微镜的薄层切片也是可用的，还有各种各样的反染色和酶染色程序。 组织学核心的具体目标是：1)确保成员研究人员通过咨询、培训、监督和评估结果以及提供技术服务，对所需组织进行最佳的组织学处理；2)促进核心成员之间以及外部研究人员之间的合作；以及3)促进对新的研究模式，包括新的基因敲除和转基因小鼠以及创新的实验范式进行快速系统的评估。组织学核心与其他核心密切相互作用。与功能测试和分子和数字成像核心的协作努力提供了以快速和比较的方式评估内/中耳功能和解剖的独特能力。这一广泛的服务提供了一个吸引人的环境，鼓励核心成员内部以及与其他领域的调查人员进行协作互动。 随着目前对分子技术的重视，基于解剖学的研究正在成为一门失落的艺术，许多实验室不再能够负担得起以最佳方式执行这些程序所需的专门设备和人员。组织学核心提供了重要的服务，以确保我们领域的研究人员始终可以使用这种方法。

Inner and middle ear tissues are among the most difficult to properly fix, orient and section for routine light and electron microscopy. However, this approach is crucial to obtain a proper understanding of the development and aging, function, disease processes and recovery of the inner and middle ear. The goal of the Histology Core is to provide the necessary training and/or services that will enable any investigator to routinely examine inner ear and related structures. Tissues of interest include, but are not limited to the sensory epithelium, bone and nervous system. The core provides full service histology, training and equipment use for frozen tissues or tissues embedded in paraffin as well as methacrylate and epoxy resins. Thin sectioning for electron microscopy is also available as are a wide variety of counterstaining and enzyme staining procedures. The specific aims of the Histology Core are: 1) to ensure that member investigators utilize optimal histological processing of desired tissues through consultation, training, supervision and evaluation of results as well as through the provision of technical services; 2) to promote collaborative efforts between core members as well as outside investigators; and 3) to promote the rapid systematic evaluation of novel research models including new knockout and transgenic mice as well as innovative experimental paradigms. The histology core interacts intimately with other cores. Collaborative efforts with the Functional Testing and Molecular & Digital Imaging Cores provide for a unique ability to assess inner/middle ear function and anatomy in a quick and comparative fashion. This broad spectrum of services provides an appealing environment that encourages collaborative interactions both within the core membership and with investigators from other fields. Anatomy-based research is becoming a lost art with the current emphasis on molecular techniques and many labs can no longer afford the specialized equipment and personnel required to optimally perform these procedures. The Histology Core provides a vital service to ensure that this approach is always available for investigators in our field.