Confocal Microscopy

Zeiss LSM 710

LSM710Microscope: This Zeiss LSM 710 confocal system uses a Zeiss AXIO Observer Z1 inverted microscope stand with transmitted light (HAL), Illuminator HXP 120C and laser illumination sources.  It can collect transmitted light images (brightfield and DIC) as well as conventional and confocal fluorescence images.

Objectives: Neofluar 10x/0.3ph1, Neofluar 20x/0.4 ph2, Plan-Apochromat 40x/1.3DIC (oil), Plan-Apochromat 63x/1.4DIC (oil)

Fluorescence Filters: DAPI, Cy3 (red) and GFP (green).

Lasers: 405 nm Diode laser, Argon (458, 488, 514 nm), HeNe (543/561 nm) and HeNe (633 nm).

Detectors: 34 channel confocal and transmitted light detectors.

Software: ZEN 2011 software to control the microscope, scanning, laser module, tools and the image acquisition and processing.

Capabilities: Z-series, 3D/rotatable reconstruction, time-lapse analysis for following cellular events in live samples, and co-localization of multiple proteins and multicolor imaging of fixed samples.

Applications

Wide array of imaging applications including:

  • Protein localization analysis
  • Neuroanatomy,
  • Cytoskeletal structure
  • Live cell imaging
  • Cell cycling
  • Photobleaching/phototoxicity
  • Material Science studies

Case Study

Confocal Imaging Acquisition of Transmembrane Glycine receptors

The confocal microsope captures high resolution images of fluorescently-labelled structures within a cell, made visible laser excitation. For example, glycine receptors that are trafficked to the cell membrane can be easily detected at the cell surface.

By taking multiple images at incremental focal planes and time points, it is possible to generate a 3D representation of a cell, demonstrating the emergence and distribution of these transmembrane receptors in real time.