Histological and Cytological Techniques

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Objectives

Recognize the purposes of cytological and histological techniques;
Develop and improve techniques of dissection and organ excision;
Recognize the need for fixation of samples, and comprehend the working mechanisms of physical and chemical fixatives;
Run a complete routine histological protocol from fixation, dehydration and paraffin embedding;
Develop and improve the technique of microtomy;
Recognize the need to make histological stainings, in order to facilitate and optimize the analysis;
Perform topographic and cytochemical staining protocols and to understand the mechanisms of action of the different stains.
Handle the microscope and understand it as an indispensable tool in the analysis of histological sections.

Program

In addition to a theoretical support, provided to students during the practical work and in small introductions to them, samples of organs from various functional systems of a mammal (Mus musculus) will be processed for histology. For this, protocols will be provided for the different phases of processing, from dissection to observation and analysis of permanent histological slides.
Students, organized into working groups, choose an organ, or set of organs, that they will process from their harvest to obtaining definitive slides.
On different series of histological sections of the same pieces, the students will perform hematoxylin and eosin staining, with a view to an analysis of the topographic histology of the organs, as well as some histochemical staining for histophysiologic interpretation.
The slides will be observed and interpreted under a microscope for the construction of a poster and oral communication (evaluation elements).

Teaching Methodologies

A disciplina funcionará em modelo de aulas Teórico-Práticas, com pequenas sessões expositivas sobre os princípios teóricos em articulação com a prática laboratorial. Cada grupo, tutorado pelo docente, vai executando de forma crítica os vários procedimentos da prática histológica. Este processo estimula e motiva o aluno para a permanente pesquisa em torno dos vários temas.

Bibliography

BANCROFT, J. D. & A. STEVENS, 1996. Theory and practice of histological techniques. 4ª ed., Ed. Churchil Livingstone.

JUNQUEIRA, L. C. U. & L. M. M. S. JUNQUEIRA, 1983. Técnicas básicas de citologia e histologia, 121 pp. 1ª ed.. Livraria Editora Santos, São Paulo.

Code

0101574

ECTS Credits

6

Classes

  • Práticas e Laboratórios - 45 hours
  • Teórico-Práticas - 15 hours

Evaluation Methodology

  • Apreciação do poster : 44%
  • Comunicação oral : 22%
  • Prática laboratorial: 34%