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Analytical Microscopy Core Laboratory

Stephen B. Doty, PhD, Director of Laboratory

Support Staff:
Orla O'Shea, MA
Tony Labassiere, BA

The Analytical Microscopy Laboratory is located on the 6th Floor of the Caspary Research Building. The services offered are:

  • Methacrylate embedding and sectioning of calcified tissues.
  • Paraffin embedding and sectioning of soft tissues or decalcified tissues.
  • Immunocytochemistry for localization of specific proteins in cells and extracellular matrix.
  • Frozen sections of calcified and decalcified tissues.
  • Morphometric measurements of histologic structures and cellular content in order to provide quantitative analysis of tissue activities.

These services are utilized by the research and clinical staff of Hospital for Special Surgery on a "fee-for service" basis. The laboratory also provides services to users outside of HSS. Please see the fee schedule.

The laboratory has resources which have made it unique among core facilities in the New York area.

  1. Immunocytochemistry is in great demand now that so many primary antibodies are available. We routinely apply immunostaining to rat, mouse, rabbit and human samples. In addition, if immunostaining is coupled with morphometry, we can begin to quantitate tissue and cellular activities.
  2. We are unique in that we can provide total histological service for most calcified tissues, especially bone and cartilage. For example, sections of calcified bone embedded in methacrylate can be sectioned down to 3-5 microns thickness which can be used for morphometry or other analytical techniques. There are few laboratories in the US which can offer similar services.

For more information, contact us.

Representative Publications

  1. Ciani C, Sharma D, Doty SB, Fritton SP. Ovariectomy enhances mechanical load-induced solute transport around osteocytes in rat cancellous bone. Bone.2014 Feb;59:229-34.
  2. Ciani C, Doty SB, Fritton SP. An effective histological staining process to visualize bone interstitial fluid space using confocal microscopy. Bone. 2009 May;44(5):1015-7.
  3. Gleghorn JP, Doty SB, Warren RF, Wright TM, Maher SA, Bonassar LJ. Analysis of frictional behavior and changes in morphology resulting from cartilage articulation with porous polyurethane foams. J Orthop Res. 2010 Oct;28(10):1292-9.
  4. O'Loughlin PF, Cunningham ME, Bukata SV, Tomin E, Poynton AR, Doty SB, Sama AA, Lane JM. Parathyroid hormone (1-34) augments spinal fusion, fusion mass volume, and fusion mass quality in a rabbit spinal fusion model. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 Jan 15;34(2):121-30.
  5. Rapuano BE, Singh H, Boskey AL, Doty SB, MacDonald DE. Heat and radiofrequency plasma glow discharge pretreatment of a titanium alloy: evidence [corrected] for enhanced osteoinductive properties. J Cell Biochem. 2013 Aug;114(8):1917-27.
  6. Reiter DA, Roque RA, Lin PC, Doty SB, Pleshko N, Spencer RG. Improved specificity of cartilage matrix evaluation using multiexponential transverse relaxation analysis applied to pathomimetically degraded cartilage. NMR Biomed. 2011 Dec;24(10):1286-94.
  7. Sharma D, Ciani C, Marin PA, Levy JD, Doty SB, Fritton SP. Alterations in the osteocyte lacunar-canalicular microenvironment due to estrogen deficiency. Bone. 2012 Sep;51(3):488-97.
  8. Zhao Y, Urganus AL, Spevak L, Shrestha S, Doty SB, Boskey AL, Pachman LM. Characterization of dystrophic calcification induced in mice by cardiotoxin.Calcif Tissue Int. 2009 Sep;85(3):267-75.
  9. Zhu W, Liang G, Huang Z, Doty SB, Boskey AL. Conditional inactivation of the CXCR4 receptor in osteoprecursors reduces postnatal bone formation due to impaired osteoblast development. J Biol Chem. 2011 Jul 29;286(30):26794-805.
  10. Kloen P, Doty SB, Gordon E, Rubel IF, Goumans M-J, Helfet, DL. (2002) Expression and Activation of the BMP-Signaling Components in Human Fracture Nonunions. J.Bone Jt Surg. 84A(11) 1909-1918.