history

This Laboratory was oficially founded along with the ICBAS itself, back in 1975. The first Head of the Lab. was Dr. Daniel Furtado da Silva (MD), up to 1983. From this date, the Head has been Prof. Dr. Rogério Monteiro (MD, PhD), who currently holds the position of Full Professor. Our Laboratory, together with the Cell Biology Lab. and the Cytogenetics Lab., make the "Department of Microscopy". The available facilities and equipment allow studies in the fields of light and transmission electron microscopy, including immunocytochemistry, as well as molecular biology techniques (such as PCR and Northern blot). Hardware and software for performing 3D reconstructions form serial images, image analysis and design-based stereology is also available. Cell culture and karyotype analysis is routinely made in the Department.

 

teaching and technical staff working at the laboratory

1. Rogério A.F. Monteiro, MD, PhD

» Chair of the Histology courses for medical and veterinary students.

2. Eduardo Rocha, PhD

» Chair of "Comparative Histology and Embryology" course for biologists.

3. Daniel Silva, MD

4. Ricardo Marcos, DVM

5. Maria H. Oliveira, Principal Histotechnician

6. Fernanda C. Malhão, Histotechnician

7. Nádia Santos, Histotechnician

Supporting teacher (from the aquatic health laboratory)

1. Pedro Rodrigues, MSc, PhD

» current Chair of the "Imunology and Health" course for aquatic science students.

histological services

We provide internal and external services upon specific request, being the payment for external directly made to the ICBAS treasure Department: 1. Light microscopy - processing tissue to paraffin blocks, sectioning, staining with H&E or with several special stains; 2. Electron microscopy - processing tissue to epoxy blocks, semithin and ultrathin sectioning, contrasting with UA&LC; 3. Histology collections - we sell some sets a year of high quality slides for study, upon previous request and agreement; 4. Cytology services (animal ctyologies) - processing of cells and fluids and consequent veterinary diagnosis.

 

teaching activities

We teach histology and embryology to students of the following graduations of our Institute: Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Aquatic Sciences. We give several courses within the academic year (4h/week per course). "Comparative Histology and Embryology I and II" is given in to Aquatic Sciences studentes, "Human Histology and Embryology" for Medicine students, and "Animal Histology and Embryology I and II" for Veterinary students. Students attend classical, but very interactive, plenary lectures, along with lab sessions for observation and discussion of both  slides and projected images. Teaching based on group discussion, presentations, and problem-solving, are implemented together with classical training. We are continuously building a supporting WEBPAGE (in portuguese) giving relevant information and aimed to be a forum.

 

research activities

The research lines that are being developed at this time are concerned with: 1. Sequencing and expression of brown trout PPARs (peroxisome proliferator activated receptors). Study of organ and gender nuances. 2. Seasonal, temperature and gender-related influences on the structure of the liver of brown trout and tilapia. 3. Estrogenic effects over some structural and functional aspects of brown trout liver, namely hepatocytic peroxisomes. 4. Quantitative morphology of the Ito cells and Hepatocytes of the rat liver, taking into account lobular heterogeneity. 5. Stereological evaluation of the ageing effects in the rat cerebellum, both on neurons and glial cells. 6. Stereological and immunocytochemical characterization of cow aspirated cumulus-oocyte complexes to be used in vitro. 7. Gill qualitative and quantitative histopathology under waterborne influence, using tilapia as a model organism.

 

researchers with whom there are currently research collaborations

1. Alexandre Lobo da Cunha, PhD (Lab. Cell Biology)

2. Mário Sousa, MD, PhD (Lab. Cell Biology)

3. Maria João Rocha, PhD (CESPU)

4. Pedro Rodrigues, PhD (Lab. Aquatic Health)

5. Pedro Monteiro, PhD (IBMC)	6. Rui MF Henrique, MD (Institute of Oncology - Porto)

 

research students curretly working at the Laboratory

1. Albina Dolores Resende (PhD Student)

2. Carla Batista Pinto (PhD Student)

3. Figueiredo Fernandes (PhD Student)	4. Ana Calado (PhD Student)
5. Mariza (PhD Student)	6. Maja Jordanova (PhD Student)
7. João Carrola (MSc Student)	8. Eva (BSc Thesis)

 

links

1. Home Page

2. Histology Stuff

3. Students' Page

4. Science in Portugal