Ateneo - UPO

The course will present the theoretical principles and technical procedures of the main histochemical and immunohistochemical methods used in histopathological diagnostics

Manuals of Histopathological Technique
Manuals of Immunohistochemistry
MAZZI Manual of Histological and Histochemical Techniques
T. ZANIN, S. DANIEL Manual of Cyto-Histological Technique
L. RUCO, A. SCARPA Anatomia Patologica – Le basi
E. LEONARDO Diagnostica Immunoistochimica in Histocytopathology
J.D. BANCROFT, A.STEVENS Theory and practice of Histological
Techniques
T.BOENISCH, A.J.FARMILO, R.H.STEAD Immunochemical staining methods

The module is aimed at integrating the skills acquired during the
technical-practical internship with the theoretical knowledge based on
learning the basic principles of histological staining methods and
immunohistochemical reactions. In addition, it is aimed at analyzing the
application problems of each method and their possible solutions

The students must have basic notions of Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Histology.

Formal lessons with Power-Point presentations, Laboratory training in
small groups.

The teaching material used in class is available on the DIR platform. Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via reference office consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities. Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The exam consists of an oral test on the program’s topics. The students must demonstrate to have assimilated basic concepts learned during the lessons, the training and the practical internship carried out at the laboratory.

Principles and methods of the techniques used in histopathological histochemical diagnostics. Nuclear and cytoplasmic staining. Colorings for connective tissue. Colorings for nervous tissue. Impregnations. Histochemical methods for carbohydrates and mucous substances. Metachromasia. Histochemical methods for amyloid. Methods for detecting inorganic components in tissues: Iron, Calcium. Methods for lipids. Methods to demonstrate enzymatic activity. Staining methods for micro-organisms. Chemical immunohistochemistry. Definitions, principles, properties. Treatment of histological and cytological material. Immunofluorescence: technique and methods; causes of no specificity; reading of preparations; limits of the investigation in I.F. Main applications of I. F. direct and indirect. Enzymatic immunohistochemistry: enzymes; techniques and methods. Procedures for the restoration of antigenicity. Problems in immunohistochemistry: artifacts, false positives , false negatives. Immunogold: main methods. Immunohistochemistry in Electron Microscopy . Main antibodies used in IHC.

At the end of the course the students will have learned the theoretical principles of the different histochemical and immunohistochemical methods, the operational criticalities and possible solutions