Core Facilities

Electron Microscopy Centre at the Medical Faculty

Text: Prof. Ludwig Jonas, Photos: Sabine Radtke

More than 40 years ago, in 1963, the Electron Microscopy Centre (EMZ) was founded as a core facility of the whole University of Rostock by the Department of Pathology, Department of Medical Microbiology and the Institute for Veterinarian Medicine with a location within the building of the Department of Pathology. Until 1983, the EMZ was under the leadership of the rector of the university. Lateron, it was managed inside the Faculty of Medicine, only.

At present, there are two transmission electron microscopes (TEM) and one scanning electron microscope (SEM) in this centre. In addition, all relevant preparation techniques are available, such as ultra microtomy, immuno gold labelling, negative staining, critical point drying and sputter coating.

The EMZ is involved in diagnostics, research studies and the student education within the Medical Faculty. However, there is an open mind to support all interested scientists of other faculties of the University, including also innovative companies in the local area.

In diagnostics, the EMZ investigates special diseases which can only be diagnosed by electron microscopy (viral diseases, heriditary illnesses and metabolic diseases, rare tumours, clian anomalies). The EMZ supports the scientific networks and main scientific topics, as new materials and biomaterials or implant technologies, which leads to a large number of scientific coworkers, (phD)students and postdocs, especially from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

Electron Microscopes of EMZ


Libra 120 (Zeiss), since January 2006, 120 kV TEM with elemental analysisis EDX (EDAX) and Electron filtering with an Omega filter; Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) and EFTEM-software (EELS, ESI)


EM 902 A (Zeiss) since 1994, with Prismatic filter and EFTEM software (EELS, ESI), elemental analysis, morphometry

	DSM 960 A (Zeiss), 1991, with elemental analysis (EDX system Kevex), Secunary electron detector (SE), back scatter detector (BSE), X ray detector (EDX)

Coworkers

two MTAs for preparation,
two technical assistants for service for the users and at the instruments

Preparation Techniques

TEM

Ultrathin sectioning of cells and tissues
ultra thin sectioning of hard materials (bone, teeth, composite materials, metals, dental materials)
negative staining of virus anmd bacterial suspensions as well as of cell organelle fractions
immuno gold labelling with antibodies and colloidal gold
freeze fracturing and replica preparation

SEM