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Confocal laser scanning microscopy allows for high resolution, multi-channel 3-dimensional imaging of
fluorescently-labeled or reflective specimens. The advantage over conventional widefield light
microscopy is that the optics of the confocal microscope remove "blurred" light originating
from outside the focal plane of interest, thus generating an “optical section”. 3-dimensional
image reconstruction of serial optical sections as well as quantitative measurements may be
performed using the microscope software.
The facility houses a Leica TCS-SP2 AOBS confocal laser scanning microscope (inverted) with a
spectrophotometer scan head, a high resolution Märzhäuser MCX-2 motorized XY stage and 3
confocal detectors (plus a transmitted light detector). The system has 5 lasers: blue diode
(405 nm), Argon (458, 476, 488, 514 nm), green HeNe (543 nm), orange HeNe (594 nm) and red
HeNe (633 nm). The spectrophotometer scan head allows the user to "tune" the detectors to any
emission wavelength.
In addition to being able to tune to different emission wavelengths, the SP detector allows
for spectral scanning of fluorescence and emission "fingerprinting" as well as unmixing of
signals from fluors with overlapping emission profiles.
Rules for Use of the Confocal Microscopes
Acknowledgments
For funding purposes, it is essential to acknowledge the Microscopy Facility in all publications that
include data derived from the Facility. This should include the statement:
"Microscopy was performed at the VCU - Dept. of Neurobiology & Anatomy Microscopy Facility,
supported, in part, with funding from NIH-NINDS Center core grant (5P30NS047463)."
Thank you.
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