Bone Histomorphometry Core Laboratory

About the Bone Histomorphometry Core Laboratory

The Bone Histomorphometry Core Laboratory (BHCL) provides histomorphometric analysis of the skeleton of genetically modified mice and tumor-bearing bone. The Core also provides micro-CT analysis of bone specimens. Services are performed on a subsidized fee-for-service basis for faculty affiliated with the Bone Disease Program of Texas.

Organization

Nora Navone, M.D., Ph.D., directs the Histomorphometry Core laboratory under the scientific oversight of the Bone Disease Program of Texas.  Dr. Navone has an established research laboratory currently focused on the metastasis of prostate cancer cells into bone. 

Personnel and Services

        Staining and Analysis  

The Bone Histomorphometry Core Laboratory is managed by Leah Guerra. Ms. Guerra is a Senior Histology Research Technician with more than 8 years of field experience in both clinical and research histology. She was mentored by Michael Starbuck in the protocol of bone sampling and analysis. Ms. Guerra coordinates scheduling and performs slide staining and dynamic analysis of non-decalcified bone specimens.

Ms. Guerra uses the Osteomeasure analytic system and the Bioquant Osteo 11 to digitalize the histologic sections to be analyzed and to project the images on a computer monitor, allowing for easy evaluation of quality. The analysis of wild-type animals along with each new batch of genetically modified animals provides an internal control for and between each experiment. Similarly, the simultaneous analysis of injected and non-injected contralateral bones in the in vivo intraosseous tumor cell injection provides a reliable internal control.

For further questions or information regarding bone staining or analysis contact Ms. Guerra at MDA extension X31212 or at ldgandee@mdanderson.org.

        Bone Processing, Embedding, Sectioning:

Ms. Guerra works closely with Jodie Simelda, a Research Histology Core Laboratory Technician who handles all bone processing and methyl methacrylate embedding.

Services to request from the RHCL include:

• Processing of 4% PFA- (preferred) or 10% neutral-buffered formalin-fixed bone specimens (non-decalcified)
• Methyl methacrylate (plastic) embedding for non-decalcified bone
•  Plastic sectioning using Tungsten-Carbide blade
• Processing of 10% neutral-buffered formalin-fixed, decalcified bone specimens for routine paraffin-embedding
• Paraffin sectioning of decalcified bone

Requests for these services should be sent to the Research Histology Core Laboratory (RHCL) site within the iLabs Website Platform. The RHCL can be reached by email at RHFCoreLab@mdanderson.org or by telephone at 713-792-3119.

Services fees

Bone Processing, Embedding, and Sectioning

Staining and Analysis