The Core Research Laboratories at The University of Toledo Health Science Campus (HSC) have been consolidated into The University of Toledo Integrated Core Facilities. This integration includes the Advanced Microscopy & Imaging Center (AMIC), Flow Cytometry and the Genomics Core Facilities to meet your research needs. We provide state of the art technological support including laser-based flow cytometry and cell sorting, fluorescence and light microscopy, advanced laser scanning confocal microscopy, whole animal imaging, histology services and gene expression analysis with the Affymetrix GeneChip platform of the highest quality at an economical price. The Integrated Core Facility also offers comprehensive training on all instruments with online scheduling calendars for the individual instruments.
The AMIC hosts a variety of microscopes and advanced technologies that assist investigators in developing imaging protocols for your individual research needs. Our technologies, complete with versatile software packages, allow for simple in vivo or in vitro image acquisition of various experimental systems. Specifically, investigators have access to a Leica TCS SP5
multiphoton laser scanning confocal microscope outfitted with both conventional and high speed scanners, allowing for excitations lines from 458, 488, 514, 561, 633, and 710-990nm (from the tunable Ti-Sapphire MP laser). This system is capable of collecting up to 5 colors simultaneously for quantitative confocal image analysis, 3D reconstruction, FRAP and FRET, animation, stereo imaging, single layer projection, time lapse collection, and co-localization analysis. In addition, we have an Olympus Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF)
Microscope coupled to multiple laser lines (488, 546, 633nm) and equipped with a live-cell imaging incubator for time-lapse imaging. Experiments requiring whole animal fluorescence/bioluminescence imaging are performed on the IVIS Spectrum (Molecular
Devices), a multimodal bioluminescent/fluorescent imaging system designed for noninvasive imaging of cells and tissues in small animals. This instrument facilitates the study of biological processes via fluorescence, including tumor growth, cancer metastasis, bacterial infections, immune responses and inflammation, and regulation of tissue-specific gene expression.
Further, an ACUSON Sequoia C512 ultrasound imaging system, manufactured by Siemens
Medical Solutions USA, Inc. is also available. This echocardiography system is widely accepted as a valuable research tool for studying a broad range of cardiovascular disease processes in small animals, including ischemic heart disease, heart failure, cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling, hypertension and diabetic cardiomyopathy. The Sequoia system provides a full range of echocardiographic capabilities including high-resolution imaging, tissue harmonic imaging, differential echo amplification, spectral Doppler (Pulsed and Continuous
Wave), color Doppler (for measurements of velocity energy and tissue Doppler imaging), and
M-mode and color-Doppler M-mode imaging. Also available is a full service Histology
Core which provides researchers with a range of specimen work up and preparation selection.
This includes both paraffin and frozen sections and is inclusive of processing, embedding, sectioning, staining (H&E or special stains) and coverslipping. A number of special stains are routinely performed including H&E, trichrome, PAS, Oil Red O, etc. as well as immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF). Special procedures for IHC and

IF are discussed on an individual basis to incorporate antigen retrieval methods and antibody selection. A state-of-the-art Electron Microscopy (EM) Laboratory is also part of the AMIC.
The EM facility specializes in ultrastructural diagnosis of human disease and also provides research support to the University of Toledo and is equipped with two transmission electron microscopes.
All microscopy, advanced imaging technologies and histology services are located in the Block
Health Science Building.
The Flow Cytometry Core provides access to instrumentation, assistance, and guidance for flow cytometry methods and applications as well as consultation on the use of dyes, bead arrays, multi-color panel kits, and other reagents. Equipment in the Flow Cytometry core includes a
BD Biosciences FACSCalibur and BD FACSAriaIIu High-Speed Cell Sorter. The BD Biosciences
FACSCalibur features 2 lasers: an Argon Blue (488nm Excitation) and a Red Diode (635nm
Excitation). The unit has 6 detectors: FSC – 488/10, SSC – 488/10, FL-1 – 530/30, FL-2 – 585/42,
FL-4 – 661/16, FL-3 – 670LP and is capable of aggregate discrimination by the BD Doublet
Discrimination Module. Researchers are trained by the Flow Cytometry Core staff to use the machine for cell population(s) analysis at their convenience. The BD FACSAriaIIu High-Speed
Cell Sorter features 3 lasers: a Violet (407nm Excitation), an Argon Blue (488nm Excitation) and a
Helium Neon Red (633nm Excitation). The unit has 12 detectors. For the 488nm Excitation, detectors available are FSC – 488/10, SSC – 488/10, 530/30 (515 – 545nm), 575/26 (562 – 588nm), 610/20 (600 –
620nm), 695/40 (675 – 715nm), 780/60 (750 – 810nm). For the 633nm Excitation, detectors available
are 660/20 (650 – 670nm), 730/45 (707 – 752nm), 780/60 (750 – 810nm). For the 407nm Excitation, detectors available are 450/40 (430 – 470nm), 530/30 (515 – 545nm). The FACSAriaIIu is capable of a High-Speed Sort Rate up to ~25,000 events(cells)/second and is capable of aggregate discrimination by the BD Doublet Discrimination Module. The unit has temperature controlled sample and sorting receptacles and a multi-well plate sorter with an Aerosol Management
System to evacuate aerosolized particles from the sort chamber protecting the operator during routine sorting procedures. This system can be used to isolate/separate cell types (or vesicular bodies), rare populations, as well as specific clones (post-transfection) for further cell culture or analysis/experimentation—if a population can be labeled, distinguished, and gated, it can be sorted.
The Genomics Core Laboratory performs gene expression analyses with the Affymetrix
GeneChip system. Standard Affymetrix protocols are used by the investigator to prepare biotinlabeled cRNA starting from either total RNA or mRNA. The hybridization is then performed, post-hybridization washing and staining, and scanning of fluorescence levels utilizing a
GeneArray™ 3000 (6G) scanner platform.