Basics of Histology: Microscopy Techniques, Staining Methods & Tissue Preparation

Histology, regarded as an essential tool in biological and medical sciences, allows the detailed examination of tissues and cells. This section provides an overview of the foundational techniques used to study the microscopic structures of biological specimens.


Microscopy Techniques


Light microscopy and electron microscopy are pivotal in histology. Light microscopy, suitable for most routine investigations, uses visible light to illuminate specimens for magnification up to around 1000 times. Alternatively, electron microscopy employs a beam of electrons, greatly surpassing light microscopy in resolution and magnification, which can reveal ultrastructural details.


Staining Methods


The process of staining is crucial for distinguishing and studying the morphological features and chemical components of biological tissues. Common staining methods include hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for general morphology and various histochemical procedures to identify specific elements within cells and tissues. These techniques provide insight into the anatomy and physiology by visualizing different components uniquely.


Tissue Preparation


Tissue preparation involves multiple steps: fixation, dehydration, sectioning, and embedding. Tissues are initially fixed to preserve structure and prevent decay. Dehydration then follows to remove water, making the tissue amenable to being encased in a solid medium. Thin sections are cut using a microtome, and finally, tissues are embedded in a supportive matrix, facilitating detailed microscopic analysis.

Why building a liver is like solving a 3D puzzle—and how MTM Laboratory researchers are finally cracking the code

November 27, 2025
Recent advances in biofabrication are revolutionizing liver tissue engineering by enabling precise spatial patterning of liver cells to mimic the organ’s complex architecture. Techniques like 3D bioprinting, microfluidics, and self-assembled cell aggregates help recreate critical features such as metabolic zones, cell polarity, and vascular networks. These engineered liver models improve drug testing, disease research, and hold promise for regenerative therapies. Despite challenges in scaling and standardization, integrating multiple fabrication methods and emerging technologies like machine learning are driving progress. Ultimately, these innovations bring us closer to creating functional liver tissues for clinical and pharmaceutical applications. See full article here.

October 18, 2025
𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: This study explores how we can improve lab-grown liver cells for medical research and drug testing. The MTMLab team works with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) - special cells that can be transformed into liver-like cells - because real human liver cells are hard to obtain. However, these lab-grown liver cells don't function as well as mature adult liver cells. The research team discovered that the surface environment where these cells grow is crucial for their development. We created tiny fiber scaffolds made from different materials like collagen, decellularized livers, and chitosan that mimic the natural structure around liver cells. When liver cells were grown on these specially designed nanofibers for three weeks, they displayed higher function compared to cells grown on standard surfaces. Our key finding was that both the material composition and the nanoscale fiber structure were important - stiffer synthetic fibers or softer materials without the appropriate topography or composition prevented proper cell maturation. This research helps create better lab models of human liver tissue that can be used for testing new drugs and studying liver diseases more effectively.

2025 BMES Annual Meeting - MTMLab Member Presentations!

October 7, 2025
Owen Lally Modeling the synergistic effects of alcohol and fats on liver disease via engineered cocultures In Vitro Liver Toxicology Testing of Rat and Dog Hepatocytes to Reduce In Vivo Regulatory Requirements Nathan Shelton Enhancing the Functions and Hepatitis B Virus Infectability of Primary Human Hepatocytes Protein Microarrays to Probe Synergistic Effects of Extracellular Matrix Composition and Stiffness on Liver Macrophages Lesly Villarreal Engineering a 3D Placental Trophoblast Invasion Platform Via Droplet Microfluidics Gas-permeable Plates to Model Synergetic Effects of Oxygen and Endothelial Factors on Liver Zonation Emanuele Spanghero Modeling the Interplay Between Liver and Heart Diseases via a Human Dual-Organ Platform Engineering High Cell Density Beating Cords of Cardiomyocytes and Fibroblasts via Photopatterned Alginate