Facility Details

The Microscope Imaging Facility provides light microscopy image acquisition and analysis services on a fee-per-use basis. The facility currently has two laser scanning confocal systems, an inverted Zeiss LSM 510 Confocal system with 3 lasers (488, 514, 543 and 633nm) and an upright Zeiss LSM 510 Confocal with multiple lasers/laser lines (405, 458, 477, 488, 514, 543 and 633nm). These systems can do experiments such as 3D rendering and FRAP. The facility has an upright Olympus AX70 epifluorescent microscope equipped with the MicroBrightField Neurolucida and Stereo Investigator software packages. This system is used for color histology records, 3D neuron reconstruction, serial section reconstruction, anatomical mapping and morphometry analysis. For microdissection, the facility has a Zeiss PALM MicroBeam system for non-contact microdissection of single cells or groups of cells. The isolated cells can then be used for DNA or RNA analysis, proteomic analysis or for further cultivation. For live-cell imaging, the facility has a Nikon TE2000S epifluorescent microscope with Prior filter wheels and a Photometrics Coolsnap HQ CCD camera. This microscope also has an Eppendorf FemtoJet microinjection system. This system is run by the MetaMorph and MetaFluor software packages. This system can do multi-color time-lapse, FRET and calcium ratio imaging. For high-end live-cell imaging, the facility has a new Nikon Swept-Field Confocal system with 3 solid-state lasers (491, 561 and 638nm). This system uses a Photometrics QuantEM CCD camera with on-chip gain to maximize signal and to increase the rate of acquisition. This system is also equipped with a laser TIRF illuminator and a high resolution Photometrics Cool-Snap CCD camera. Tissue culture incubators, Bioptechs Delta T4 dish heaters, objective heaters and a micro-perfusion system are available to maintain live cell cultures. An off-line image analysis station is available to the facility users.