CELL AND TISSUE BIOLOGY

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
96	62219 	S2  	D 	CELL AND TISSUE BIOLOGY   	1.00

Contents


STAFFING:

Examiner: A. YOUNG

PRE-REQUISITE(S)

62101


RATIONALE:

This unit will provide the student with first-hand experience in identifying the main cell types, tissues and organs of vertebrates. During the course of the unit the student will be studying the architecture of individual cells composing a tissue (cytology), the manner in which the individual cells and intercellular matrix are organised into tissues (histology) and the manner in which tissues are organised into functional units or organs (organology). Students will also gain hands-on experience with the techniques and instruments used in histology laboratories. They will receive instruction in the use and care of: microscopes, microtomes, tissue processors, microtomes knives and cryostats. The students will learn how to prepare slides, mainly tissue sections, for microscopic observation.


SYNOPSIS:

The main topics in this unit are: basic microscopy, review of cell ultra structure; basic cytology and cytological methods; blood and connective tissue proper; epithelial tissue; muscle and nervous tissue; fixation of tissues; processing tissue for sectioning (eg. the paraffin method);cutting paraffin sections; frozen sections (cryotomy); routine and special staining procedures for paraffin sections; preparation of permanent slides; basic histochemistry; study of the histology of the organs/structures sectioned; care and maintenance of the instruments used in histotechnology; safety aspects of histology laboratories.


OBJECTIVES:

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

  1. efficiently set-up and use any of the light microscopes commonly used in biological laboratories.
  2. understand the function of the main components of light mircoscopes.
  3. set up and maintain microscopes in good working order.
  4. recognise and state the functions of the organelles/inclusions observed in animal cells with the light microscope.
  5. prepare and stain a blood smear, plus identify the cell types present in the smear.
  6. identify and describe the functions of the different types of connective tissue.
  7. recognise and state the functions of the different types of epithelial tissue, plus identify the different types of surface specializations found in epithelia.
  8. identify and state the functions of the different types of muscle tissue.
  9. identify and state the functions of neurons, neuroglia, and ganglia.
  10. recognise myelinated and non-myelinated nerves in longitudinal and cross sections.
  11. set-up and operate cryostats, tissue processors, glass knife maker, rotary microtomes, and other instruments commonly used in histology laboratories.
  12. select the most appropriate fixative, dehydration and infiltration schedule for the tissues/organs being studied.
  13. prepare high quality paraffin sections of tissue using a rotary microtome.
  14. stain paraffin sections using routine and special staining procedures.
  15. describe with aid of drawings the histology of the organ sectioned and stained.
  16. describe the effect of different fixatives on the quality of tissue sections.
  17. understand the basic principles of fixation, dye chemistry and histochemistry.
  18. recognise the hazards and safety aspects of histology laboratories.

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)
  1. Basic microscopy (25%)

  2. Optical properties of specimens (eg. selective 4.00 absorption, reflection, refraction, fluorescence). Systems of microscopy (eg. bright and dark field, incident and transmitted, polarized, phase contrast, fluorescence and interference microscopy. Aberrations (chromatic, spherical, astigmatism, comma). Characteristics, care and applications of various oculars, objectives and condensers, including numerical aperature (NA), resolving power, working distance, parfocality, tube length. Light sources, especially Kohler illumination in various systems. Electronmicroscopy - transmission and scanning; specimen preparation.

  3. Histology and Histological Techniques (75%)

  4. Basic cytology, including exfoliative cytological 3.00 techniques; Cell ultra-structure. Blood and connective tissue proper, including blood smear preparations. Epithelial tissue. Muscular and nervous tissue. Overview of histological techniques. Preparing frozen sections (cryotomy). Processing tissue for sectioning (paraffin method)- fixations, dehydration, clearing and infiltration. Cutting paraffin sections with a rotary microtome. Staining paraffin sections using a variety of routine and special staining techniques. Effect of different fixatives on the quality and staining properties of paraffin sections. Fixation of tissues, including purposes, properties of different fixatives, and fixation images. Principles of biological staining: properties of dye molecules, classification of dyes, principles of haematoxylin staining, progressive and regressive technqiues, and attachment of dyes to tissues. Principles of histochemistry: classification of carbohydrates and mucosubstances, the Periodic acid-Schiff technique and Alcian blue method.


TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

Wheater, P.R., Burkitt, H.G., and Daniels V.G., Functional
Histology, 2nd Ed, Churchill Livingstone (1987)

OR

Burkitt, H.G., & Daniels, Wheater's Functional Histology,
3rd edn, 1993.

Young A., Cell and Tissue Techniques, Theory and Practical Notes,
USQ (1990)


RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Bacon, R.L., and Niles, N.R., Medical Histology: A Text - Atlas
with Introductory Pathology, Sperger-Verlag (1983).

Boon, M.E., and Drijver, J.S., Routine Cytological Staining
Techniques Theoretical Background and Practice, Elsevier (1986).

Conn, H.J., Biological Stains, 9th Ed, Williams and Wilkins Co.
(1977).

Davenport, H.A., Histological and Histochemical Techniques, W B
Saunders, (1970).

Di Fiore, S.H., Atlas of Human Histology, 3rd Ed, Lea and
Febiger,(1967).

Geneser, F., Colour Atlas of Histology, Munksgaard, (1985).

Geneser, F., Textbook of Histology, Munksgaard Lea and Febiger,
(1986).

Gude, D., Cosgrove, G.E and Hirsch, G.P., Histological Atlas of
the Laboratory Mouse, Plenum Press, (1982).

Jones, R.M., Basic Microscopic Technics, University of Chicago
Press (1966).

Vacca, L.L., Laboratory Manual of Histology, Raven Press, (1985).

Weiss, L., Cell and Tissue Biology, A textbook of Histology,
6th Ed, Urban and Schwaszenberg, (1988).


STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Lectures                                      	28
Laboratory or Practical Classes               	52
Private Study                                 	85
Examinations                                  	5

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No	*F/S	Marks		Due		Description					Wtg(%)		LBL
1 	S 	        	T.B.A.  	2 WRIT. LAB REP (HISTOLOGY)             	15.00   	N
2 	S 	        	END S2  	2 HR PRAC EXAM (HISTOLOGY)              	25.00   	N
3 	S 	        	END S2  	3 HR EXAM (HISTOLOGY & MICROSCOPY)      	60.00   	N

F=Formative, S=Summative

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Students must actively participate in at least
80% of practical classes.
A passing grade (50% or better) must be achieved in
both the theory and practical components before
an overall grade of C or better can be achieved
for the unit.
In accordance with University Policy and Guidelines,
i     an Examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an
      assignment in extenuating circumstances;
ii    no assignments will be accepted for assessment purposes
      after assignments or model solutions have been released
      except in extenuating circumstances;
iii   assignments submitted after the due date without any
      extenuating circumstances will attract a penalty of at
      most 10% of the assigned mark for each working day late;
iv    students who submit an assignment after the due date and
      wish to claim extenuating circumstances, must provide
      documentary evidence with the assignment explaining the
      circumstances;
v     the unit examiner shall consider a claim for extenuating
      circumstances and decide on the outcome;
vi    the decision of the Dean shall be final in any dispute
      that may arise in the implementation of these guidelines.

This information is accurate as at 02/12/96