Diagnostic Laboratory Services- Neuropathology
Neuropathology is the science of diseases of the nervous system, skeletal muscles and sensory organs.
Since January 2008 the AHT offers a Special Neuropathology Service run by Dr. Kaspar Matiasek who graduated from the Munich Vet School in 1995 and before changing to the AHT was a Senior Neuropathologist and Academic Specialist at the Division of Veterinary Neuropathology of the University of Munich. Dr. Matiasek has evaluated more than 4,500 clinical neuropathology cases (from salamanders to humans) and works in close collaboration with the Neurology Unit at the AHT and external veterinary neurologists.
Our panel of neuropathological investigations enrols a
- CNS PM Screen
- Clinical Neuropathology Service
- Neuropathology Consulting Service
- Neuropath Phenotyping Service
- Seizure Research
- Avian Polyneuritis Surveillance
CNS PM Screen
The postmortem CNS Screen is aimed to shed light on disorders affecting the brain or spinal cord. We always try to correlate our pathological findings to the neurological status and data obtained by diagnostic imaging or electrophysiological investigations.
Clinical Neuropathology Service
Processing and interpretation of CSF samples (see Clinical Pathology) and diagnostic brain, nerve, muscle and tumour biopsies are available through the Clinical Neuropathology Service.
Please seek contact in advance of the biopsy or puncture for instructions regarding the proper handling and shipping of the material!
Nerve biopsy profiles.
| Profile 1 (recommended): | semithin histology and nerve fibre teasing preparation. |
| Profile 1 plus: | Profile 1 and transmission electron microscopy of selected areas. |
| Profile 2 (limited value): | paraffin histology; histologic standard stains. |
| Profile 2 plus: | Profile 2 and immunohistochemistry for 3 antigens. |
| Profile 3: | morphometric assessment of the nerve fibre diameter distribution and the g-ratio |
Muscle biopsy profiles.
| Profile 1 (recommended): | cryosections; routine muscle stains and myofibre typing. |
| Profile 1 plus: | Profile 1 plus immunohistochemistry for 3 antigens. |
| Profile 2 (limited value): | paraffin histology; histologic standard stains. |
| Profile 2 plus: | Profile 2 and immunohistochemistry for 3 antigens. |
| Profile 3: | semithin histology. |
| Profile 3 plus: | Profile 3 and transmission electron microscopy of selected areas. |
Neuropathology Consulting Service
We provide a full range of diagnostic services for paraffin blocks, wet tissue specimens and glass slides sent in consultation. Clinicians and researchers are invited to submit case material dedicated to revision along with clinical history, MRI and CT scans, electrodiagnostic findings and previous pathology reports for second opinion.
Neuropath Phenotyping Service
In accordance to the modified SHIRPA-protocol we perform a standardised set of investigations for neuropathological phenotyping of the CNS, PNS and sensory organs.
Our primary screen includes the assessment and calculation of gross morphometric data, histological investigation of the brain, spinal cord (including spinal nerve roots and DRG), eyes and inner ear, electron microscopy of two selected CNS regions, and Peripheral Nerve Profiles 1plus and 3 for two selected nerves.
Histological routine employs H&E, PAS, luxol fast blue/Woelcke Spielmeyer Schroeder stain and Bodian´s stain.
Please contact us in advance of the planned investigation for planning of proper handling and shipping of the samples.
Seizure Research
The Neuropathology Lab contributes tissue samples to the Laboratory of Prof. Heidrun Potschka, University of Munich, who is one of the leading researchers on drug resistance in canine and feline seizure patients.
Please, support our efforts to identify and combat the mechanisms of drug resistance in seizure patients by completing the Seizure Questionnaire.
Avian Polyneuritis Surveillance
In collaboration with the University of Munich and Lohmann Tierzucht, we are involved in the surveillance of polyneuritis and related paralytic syndromes in chicken.
Please contact us for detailed instructions regarding the proper sampling, handling and shipping of diagnostic samples.
