Activities
Activities
Technological development and histological resources for research
Activities: General Information
The RHEM network is open to anyone with occasional or ongoing needs in experimental histology. To learn about the specific applications of each histological technique, click below.
We are able to offer all scientific staff:
🧪 Histological services
We perform histological processing adapted to all types of samples: paraffin-embedded, cryopreserved, as well as in the form of tissue microarrays. The network also offers slide digitization to facilitate data analysis and sharing.
🔬 Anatomopathological expertise
The anatomopathology unit, led by Florence Bernex (UM, veterinary pathologist), provides specialized expertise from project design to slide analysis. It covers macro- and microscopic lesion analysis, selection of stains or immunolabeling, and methodological advice.
⚙️ Provision of technical workstations
Equipped workstations (microtomes, cryostats, cassette engravers, etc.) are available by reservation through an MRI account. Their use requires prior training provided by the RHEM team to ensure the quality and reproducibility of the work.
🛠️ Specialized equipment
The platform has a range of equipment covering all stages of histological preparation: tissue processors, embedding stations, microtomes, cryostats, vibratomes, slide scanning systems, and tissue microarray systems, among others. These tools are accessible to both the academic community and the private sector.
🎓 Training
RHEM organizes on-site training sessions and technological workshops in partnership with BioCampus Montpellier and RAM. These trainings cover autopsy, sampling, sectioning, staining, and immunolabeling, with a flagship annual workshop: “From Autopsy to Tissue Analysis”. They are intended for all researchers, PhD students, engineers, and technicians involved in experimental histology.
Activities: Histological services
RHEM offers a wide range of histological techniques adapted to different types of samples and experimental needs:
Service provision for cryopreserved samples is carried out within the RHEM-AdV and RHEM-IGMM platforms. The RHEM-AdV platform has the particular feature of including a biosafety level 2 laboratory, enabling the sectioning of human or prion-like samples. For further information, please contact these two platforms via the contact form.
In addition to providing cryotomy services, the three platforms make cryostats available for users who wish to section their own samples. Access to this equipment requires prior training. For further information, please contact the relevant platform via the contact form.
Access to histological techniques dedicated to paraffin-embedded samples is facilitated through an electronic ordering portal (100LIMS4Histo) and a collection and redistribution shuttle for samples. To access these services, you need to contact Nelly Pirot via our contact form by selecting the RHEM-IRCM service.
The processing of paraffin-embedded samples follows several steps that determine the quality of histological sections. It is therefore recommended to follow the paraffin sample processing protocol recommended by the network. For more details, you can also consult the documents available on our 100lims4histo software.
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The steps carried out by the platform are illustrated in the following diagram:
We offer:
- Paraffin embedding of samples according to a specific orientation that will define the cutting plane.
- Slide preparation using different sectioning methodologies depending on the biological question and tissue type (See Sectioning Methods List).
- Various topographical and histochemical stains (Hematoxylin Eosin, Hematoxylin Eosin Safran, PAS, Alcian Blue, PAS-Alcian Blue, Safranin O-Fast Green, Perls, Sirius Red, etc.).
- Various immunohistochemical or immunofluorescent stainings (markers of proliferation, apoptosis, inflammatory cells, blood vessels, etc.) using a Ventana Discovery Ultra autostainer. Multiple staining in visible or fluorescence can also be performed (example below).
All of our services are listed in a catalogue available through our 100lims4histo software.
Contact us:
For the exact list, contact the RHEM-IRCM platform via our contact form.
Upon request, staining or immunolabeling protocols can be developed.
The Tissue Micro-Array (TMA) is a medium-throughput technology that allows multiple cores from different donor blocks to be assembled into a single recipient block. This donor block is then sectioned to generate slides. This enables the simultaneous analysis of the expression of a given protein on a large number of samples (from 90 to 400 cores depending on core diameter).
This technology offers the following advantages:
- time-saving, as only one donor block is sectioned and a single slide is produced per staining,
- reagent-saving, since only one slide per staining needs to be processed,
- improved reproducibility, as all samples are processed synchronously and uniformly.
We offer custom TMA block creation. We use the 3DHistech TMArrayer for this purpose.
This equipment allows the selection of regions to core on virtual slides generated from donor blocks.
This equipment has the advantage of capturing images of the donor blocks both before and after coring. It allows access to different core diameters: 0.6 mm, 1 mm, and 2 mm.
For any further information, please contact the RHEM-IRCM platform via the contact form, selecting the RHEM-IRCM service.
Example of a mouse ear core stained with three distinct stains
Principle
Virtual slides are digitized reproductions of the optical content of a histological glass slide. They are produced using a slide scanner. Viewing is done on a computer screen using a system called a viewer, which reproduces the functions of a microscope. This technology has numerous applications in teaching, research, and diagnostics.
In Montpellier, the MRI imaging platform is equipped with three slide scanners (Hamamatsu, Zeiss, and 3DHistech).
Service offered
In collaboration with the MRI platform located at the INM, we offer the digitisation of slides produced by RHEM-IRCM using the Hamamatsu scanner. To request this service, simply indicate it when placing your histology order in our software.
This digitization service is offered exclusively for brightfield slides produced by the RHEM. The RHEM prepares and sends these slides to the MRI-INM team, who then digitize them.
It is the user’s responsibility to digitize slides produced independently of the paraffin platform or the IF slides generated by RHEM. To do this, simply schedule an appointment with the engineer in charge of MRI slide scanners via the MRI website.
Virtual slides obtained from the paraffin platform are made accessible to all Montpellier users via the sFTP server set up by MRI.
Useful documents
You can find documents for using Filezilla and NPDview by clicking here (Documents > General)
Activities: Available equipment
The provision of equipment is available on all RHEM platforms. After registration and training by RHEM engineers, users can book the equipment online from wherever they are.
The equipment available includes:
- Niagara and conventional microtomes
- Cryostats
- Cassette engravers
- Brightfield and polarised light microscopes
For further information, please contact a platform manager.
Activities: Training
On-demand Training
The platform staff provides training to strengthen researchers’ technical expertise in histology and histopathology. On-site, on-demand training is offered in: autopsy techniques, sample collection, sectioning, staining, and immunolabeling…
For further information, please contact one of the platform managers.
BioCampus Technological Workshops
The BioCampus Montpellier service unit organizes technological training workshops for the entire Montpellier Life Sciences community, and they are also open to external and private participants. Within this framework, RHEM organizes its annual workshop: “From Autopsy to Tissue Analysis”.
Objectives and Target Audience
This training aims to improve theoretical and practical knowledge in experimental histology and optimize the quality of samples received by the platform. It is intended for researchers, PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, engineers, and technicians directly involved in research projects. The training is organized in partnership with the Montpellier Animal Facility Network (RAM).
Activities: Anatomopathological Expertise
Florence Bernex, researcher at UM and veterinary pathologist, leads the RHEM anatomopathology unit and provides expertise in animal anatomopathology.
This expertise goes beyond simple morphological analysis.
For further information, please contact Florence Bernex via our contact form.
Activities: Technological Development
The RHEM platform does not only work on researcher-led projects; it also conducts technological development for the benefit of the scientific community.
