The Cellular Morphology Core laboratory is constructed to meet the increasing demands of cell biology and transgene detection in the area of gene therapy research. Routine morphology support in the form of frozen, paraffin, and glycolmethacrylate sectioning for light level microscopy (LM) as well as standard transmission electron microscopy (EM) will be provided as a comprehensive service to investigators participating in SCOR projects. In addition, the core will emphasize state of the art methodologies for detecting transgene expression including in situ hybridization, immunocytochemistry, and histochemical detection of Beta-galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase reporter genes. The cellular morphology core will provide techniques of in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical detection of CFTR transgene as comprehensive services to preclinical studies of the Animal Models Core, the clinical studies of the Human Applications Laboratory (project III) and projects I and II. The cellular morphology core will interact with participating SCOR projects by two mechanisms: i) comprehensive service, and ii) facilities and technical support. Comprehensive services will be predominantly applied to clinical and preclinical projects. This will assure the minimal amount of technical variability and high quality assurance. Alternatively, the CMC will provide comprehensive services of in situ hybridization, immunocytochemistry, and histochemistry through the initial developmental stages of studies pertaining to projects I and II. Once methods for developmental studies have been defined within the core, the technologies will be transferred to individual investigators of projects I and II. During this phase of developmental projects, users will have full support for routine sectioning and full access to equipment and commonly used reagents for specialized techniques. Due to the specialized nature of electron microscopy, all EM services will be provided as a comprehensive service.
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