Basic Ultramicrotomy Minicourse

Ultramicrotomy Logo

Date: October 26-27, 2015

Location: University of Maryland Baltimore, Electron Microscopy Core Imaging Facility (EMCIF)

Instructor and demonstrator: : EMCIF Director (Dr. Ru-ching Hsia)  and staff

Scope of aims:  To promote the knowledge and skills of basic ultramicrotomy techniques.

Targeted participants:  Individuals who wish to learn basic ultramicrotomy of resin embedded biological specimen.  No experience required

Format: Lecture, demonstration and hands-on practice

Techniques covered: Trimming, semithick sectioning, Ultrathin sectioning and trouble shooting

Instrumentation:  Ultramicrotome (Leica UC6 and UC7)

Registration Fee: $600 ($550 if also attend Aurion IGSS workshop, see below)

Participants: maximum 6

Basic Ultramicrotomy Minicourse Registration Form

Mail registration form with payment to "EMCIF, BRB7-037, 655 West Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD 21201"

A list of nearby hotels that offer special rate for UMB guests is available upon request, please contact EMCIF.

Payment Method:

By check

Make check payable to "UMB EM Facility Workshop"
By Credit card

Provide credit card information on the registration form

A seperate Aurion Immunogold and Silver Staining (IGSS) Workshop will be held on October 28 to 30 immediately after the ultramicrotomy minicourse.

More information of Aurion IGSS workshop  

Inquiry: Email coreimaging@umaryland.edu 

QUICK LINKS

Basic Ultramicrotomy Minicourse Registration Form

Check out 2015 EMCIF workshop and courses

Basic ultramicrotomy minicourse tentative agenda ▾

Basic ultramicrotomy minicourse preliminary agenda  

10/26

9:00 to 9:50

 The anatomy of ultramicrotomes
  • Types  of sectioning instrument
  • Mechanism of ultramicrotomes
  • Functionality of ultramicrotomes and accessories 

10/26

10:00 to 10:45

 All about Knives
  • Types of diamond knives
  • The usage and care of  diamond knives
  • Glass knives, pros and cons.

10/26

11:00 to 12:00

Ultramicrotomy of resin embedded biological specimen:
workflow & general practice

  • Shaping sample pyramid & trapezoid block face
  • Smoothing block face
  • Pre-sectioning, semi-thick sectioning
  • Ultrathin sectioning
  • Section pick-up
 Lunch Break  

10/26

1:00-5:00

Demonstration: Manual trimming and ultramicrotome trimming
Demonstration: Making glass knives, eyelash tools and cleaning diamond knives
Hands-on Practice
 10/27

9:00-10:00

 Ultrathin sectioning clinics
  • Common problem troubleshoot
  • Special sectioning: Sectioning flat specimen (monolayers,  filters etc)
  • Tricks to locate diluted specimen in blocks
  • Tricks to section poorly embedded specimen (soft blocks)
  • Directional sectioning
  • Serial sections
 10/27

10:00-10:30

 Q & A
  10/27

11:00-12:00

 Hands-on Practice
 Lunch Break  
  10/27

1:00-5:00

 Hands-on Practice