The Department is dedicated to various activities in teaching, scientific research, diagnostic services, histotechnical processing, and public engagement with science.

Teaching

In the pedagogical sphere, the academic staff of the Department of Microscopy provide training for Bachelor’s degrees (BSc) in Biochemistry, Aquatic Environmental Sciences, and Bioengineering, as well as Integrated Master’s degrees (MSc) in Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.

Additionally, the Department is responsible for curricular units in Master’s programmes in Bioengineering, Marine Sciences – Marine Resources, Biochemistry, and Environmental Toxicology and Contamination, while also collaborating with the Master’s in Forensic Medicine. Its members have supervised numerous undergraduate, Master’s, and Doctoral (PhD) theses, regularly hosting both national and international postdoctoral researchers.

Research

The Department’s research lines utilise microscopy alongside complementary methodologies in molecular biology, genetics, physiology, and endocrinology, with a focus on the following areas:

• Animal Cytogenetics: studies on spontaneous and induced chromosomal instability.

• Nuclear Receptors (cross-talk ERs vs. PPARs): relationships with hepatic peroxisomes and lipid metabolism (in vivo and in vitro studies using brown trout and cell lines).

• Comparative Morphophysiology of Gastropod Molluscs: ultrastructural, histochemical, and biochemical studies related to the phylogeny and diet of various species.

• Hepatic and Mammary Carcinogenesis: the influence of oestrogens and the characterisation of structural and molecular phenotypes in experimental (trout) and descriptive (canine) models.

• Quantitative Hepatic Morphology: the influence of sex and age on liver structure in fish (e.g. trout and zebrafish) and rats.

• Reproductive Medicine: biology, genetics, physiology, and endocrinology of reproduction, integrating light, electron, and fluorescence microscopy, cell cultures, and pharmacological/toxicological assays.

• Microparasitology of Aquatic Animals: ultrastructural studies and molecular phylogeny of various phyla (e.g. Apicomplexa, Myxozoa), in international collaboration.

• Fanconi Anaemia: oxidative stress, antioxidant defence, and the role of the erythrocyte.

• Toxicopathology and Molecular Toxicology: monitoring of Portuguese coastal estuaries and laboratory assays using bivalves, fish, and cell cultures.

• Marine Bioprospecting: screening for the antiproliferative and apoptotic potential of marine bioactive compounds.

Diagnostic Services and Technical Support

Regarding service provision to the community (both internal and external), the following stand out:

• Cytological Diagnosis: routine support for the ICBAS Veterinary Clinic (Lab. of Histology and Embryology).

• Clinical Cytogenetics: chromosomal diagnosis in bone marrow for the prognosis of haematological malignancies and the diagnosis of Fanconi anaemia (Lab. of Cytogenetics).

• Human Reproduction and Ciliopathies: diagnosis of gamete dysmorphia and ciliopathies (Lab. of Cell Biology).

• Histotechnics and Digital Imaging: histological processing services and digital microscopy (Lab. of Histology and Embryology).

The ICBAS Electron Microscopy Service operates in close coordination with the Department, providing support to researchers within the institution, external entities, and the Porto University Hospital Centre (CHUP).

Public Engagement

The Department maintains an active participation in science communication, notably through its annual presence at the University of Porto Exhibition (Mostra da U.Porto) and the Junior University (Universidade Júnior), both organised by the U.Porto Rectorate.