I have always enjoyed histology, and the journey that takes you from a tissue sample, to images full of data on a slide. Since 2008 I have gained experience processing many different tissue types requiring unique processing techniques, including deep-sea jellyfish, crustacean larvae, deep-sea molluscs, temperate and polar bivalves, and egg masses, and have described the reproduction in eleven marine invertebrate species.
Below are a few of my favorite images, both from an artistic angle, but also because of the achievement of getting particularly challenging and rare samples processed and successfully cut. Many of the specimens I have worked with have been preserved in less then perfect conditions for histology resulting in gaps between tissue or disintegration of the animal during embedding. Getting any images from some of these samples has been a rewarding challenge involving hours of lab time different protocols.
All of the sections below are from tiny deep-sea and Antarctic bivalves, usually done as whole animal histology.
Below are a few of my favorite images, both from an artistic angle, but also because of the achievement of getting particularly challenging and rare samples processed and successfully cut. Many of the specimens I have worked with have been preserved in less then perfect conditions for histology resulting in gaps between tissue or disintegration of the animal during embedding. Getting any images from some of these samples has been a rewarding challenge involving hours of lab time different protocols.
All of the sections below are from tiny deep-sea and Antarctic bivalves, usually done as whole animal histology.
This selection is of male and female Yoldiella sp. from the Southern Ocean between 200 and 5000 metres. These images are mostlycomposites of 20-30 images taken at high resolution and blended to create whole animal sections. These specimens were collected over many years on various research expeditions, and mostly thrown straight into ethanol. This results in tissue shrinkage and dehydration, and therefore extra care in the embedding process to get any sections.
These next images are of Lissarca miliaris, a small intertidal bivalve from the Antarctic. These specimens are from Signy Island, and are small enough for whole animal histology. The oocytes mature and develop internally and fully formed miniature adults are released after 18 months of development. In some of these images you can see the brooded D-shaped larvae. Scale bars are 100 um on close up images and 10 mm on whole animal images.
