Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology
Research fields, Methods and Equipment
Research Fields
- Placenta research:
- Analysis of trophoblast invasion
- Trophoblast differentiation and trophoblast fusion
- Turnover and apoptosis of villous trophoblast
- Vascular biology
- Interaction of endothelial cells with mesenchymal stromal cells
- Preeclampsia research:
- Biomarkers to predict preeclampsia in the first trimester pregnancy
- Unravelling the etiology of preeclampsia
- Reproductive immunology:
- Expression and function of HLA-molecules in placental tissue and germ cells with a particular
- emphasis on the non-classical class I molecule HLA-G
- NK-cell functions during pregnancy
- Bone biology and fracture healing
- Neuroscience:
- Neuroanatomy
- Research on the molecular constituents of the nervous system
- Ultrastructure research:
- Analysis of human and non human proteins, cells and tissues
Methods
- Histological methods:
- Light microscopy (fixation, paraffin embedding, cryo-sectioning, different staining techniques)
- Immunohistochemistry (fluorochrome and enzymatic detection, immunogold-labeling)
- Scanning electron microscopy
- Transmission electron microscopy (thin sections techniques, replica technology e.g. freeze etch and freeze fracture, immunogold-labelling using pre- and post-embedding methods)
- 3D-electron microscopy using both serial sections and electron tomography
- Confocal laser scanning microscopy
- Laser microdissection
- Single cell analysis
Methods in Molecular and Cell Biology:- DNA and RNA extraction from cells and tissues
- Southern and Northern blotting (radioactive, non-radioactive)
- In situ Hybridization (non-radioactive)
- PCR, RT-PCR and qPCR
- FACS analysis
Biochemical methods:- 1- and 2-dimensional Polyacrylamide-Gelelectrophoresis
- Western blotting
- ELISA
Cell and Tissue Culture:- Culture of several non-transfected and transfected cell lines (e.g. choriocarcinoma cells)
- Isolation and culture of feta cell from human placenta (e.g. different trophoblast and endothelial cell populations, mesenchymal stromal cells)
- Isolation and culture of cells from human blood vessels (endothelial cells, fibroblasts)
- Bioreactor model for the development of vascular protheses
- 3-dimensional confrontation culture
- Culture of cells and tissues under various oxygen concentrations (0.1% to 90%)
- Live cell imaging with phase contrast and fluorescence markers
- Production of monoclonal antibodies
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