Cellular and Molecular Neuropathology Core
Director: Steven L. Carroll, MD, PhD
Co-Directors: Andra Frost, MD and Jayne Ness, MD, PhD
Department/Center Association: Alabama Neuroscience Blueprint Core Center
Established: 2006
Mission
The Cellular and Molecular Neuropathology Core provides neuroscientists across
campus with services that facilitate the histopathological and molecular characterization of
genetically modified experimental animals.
Facility Description
The Cellular and Molecular Neuropathology Core is housed in two facilities in the Civitan
International Research Center. The basement of Civitan (CIRC-16) houses all resources
related to tissue processing and sectioning. The fifth floor (CIRC-559) houses the
Microbrightfield (MBF) stereology system and the laser microdissection system.
The UAB Cellular and Molecular Neuropathology Core has the following instrumentation:
 an automated tissue processor;
 a paraffin embedding system;
 an automated Microm HM 355S microtome for paraffin sectioning;
 a Leica CM 1850 UV capable cryostat for frozen sectioning;
 a Leica SM2000 sliding microtome for thick stereological sectioning
 an Olympus BX51 upright fluorescence microscope with dry and oil-immersion,
lenses, motorized stage and equipped with MBF stereology/morphometric software;
and
 an Arcturus/Molecular Devices Veritas Laser Capture system encompassing an
infrared laser for laser capture microdissection, an ultraviolet laser for laser cutting
microdissection, fluorescence microscopy, and software and hardware for automated
microdissection.
Research Information
The Cellular and Molecular Neuropathology Core encompasses a facility for histologic
analyses. This section of the Core is equipped with an automated tissue processor, paraffin
embedder, automated microtome, and UV capable cryostat. Additionally, access to a sliding
microtome is available. This equipment has the primary function of supporting Core
instrumentation, such as the Laser Microdissection and MBF microscopes. The processing of
tissue in this Core is to facilitate investigators using mouse models with histological analyses.
Special emphasis is placed on providing meticulous sectioning and histological staining of
mouse embryos, non-formalin-fixed brain tissue, and brain tissue fixed in special fixatives.
The MBF system is a state-of-the-art stereology/morphometric microscope system. This
system is capable of performing several advanced image analysis routines including unbiased
cell counts, measurement of cell volumes, areas and distributions, quantitation of
immunohistochemical and other signals, neuronal tree analyses, 3D neuron reconstruction/
analysis, serial section reconstruction, and 3D modeling of larger brain regions. The MBF
system can quantitatively analyze bright-field, dark-field, or fluourescence microscopic images
automatically collected using an attached microscope or stored data sets collected using
confocal microscopes, electron microscopes, or magnetic resonance imaging instrumentation.
This system assists in precise identification and quantitation of changes in cell number and
morphology occurring in transgenic mouse models. The core also has a mobile key with access
to the analysis software. This mobile key allows for quantitation and manipulations away from
the main microscope. No human tissue analysis is performed on this microscope.
Laser Microdissection is most commonly used by researchers who study in vivo disease
processes by analysis of animal and human tissues. Laser microdissection allows precise
dissection of microscopically specified single cells or groups of cells from histologic sections of
fixed, frozen tissues, and cytologic preparations. The system has fluorescent detection
capabilities. The isolated cells can then be used for a wide variety of downstream analyses of
DNA; RNA; or protein content, including PCR, real-time quantitative PCR, expression
microarrays, Western blot analysis and mass spectrometry. The combination of an infrared and
ultraviolet laser containing system provides for a highly versatile system in which laser
microdissection can be optimized for specific projects.
Services and Fees
The Core provides full time technical training and assistance to UAB neuroscience
investigators and their lab personnel for all Core equipment. Investigators are allowed to run
the microscopes by themselves after training is completed. Consultation with the Core’s
Technical Director is also available for assistance in setting up pilot studies. Currently there are
no service fees for use of the facility; however, it is not meant to be an open house histology
core. This equipment has the primary function of supporting Core microscopes. To access the
Core’s forms and its scheduling web site, please visit:
http://www.alneurosciencecenter.uab.edu/CoreC-Histology%20Svcs%20FORMS.html.
Contact Information
Director: Steven L. Carroll, MD, PhD
Email: scarroll@uab.edu
Phone: 205-934-9828
Co-Director: Andra Frost, MD
Email: afrost@uab.edu
Phone: 205-975-8898
Co-Director: Jayne Ness, MD, PhD
Email: jness@uab.edu
Phone: 205-996-7850
Technical Director: Buffie Clodfelder-Miller, PhD
Email: clodbuff@uab.edu
Phone: 205-975-6356
Web Site: http://www.alneurosciencecenter.uab.edu/CoreC.htm
Approved by: Steven L. Carroll, MD, PhD
Date: February 25, 2008