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Microscopy Area

Confocal Microscopy

Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) is a standard technology with the following advantages over conventional widefield microscopy:

  • Removal of light from out-of-focus planes;
  • Improved lateral (XY) and axial (Z) resolution;
  • Ability to perform a series of optical sections from specimens;

The confocal microscope is a valuable tool for research because the system is able to obtain images with clarity and reasonable resolution, thus enabling 3-D reconstruction of the specimen from optical sections or series of images obtained.

Currently, the Unit has 1 Leica TCS SP2 upright microscope equipped with a laser diode at 405nm, Argon/Kripton 488nm, Helium/Neon 543-594 and 633 nm, with 10x, 20x, 40x, 63x and 100x objectives.

The Unit also provides equipment for sample preparation and maintenance prior to imaging, as well as resources for the data processing.


The 3D-imaging properties of the CLSM make it an ideal tool to study cell biology and life sciences.


 
 

Key applications areas include:

  • localization and co-localization in cells and tissues;
  • cytoskeleton and organelle functions;
  • vesicles trafficking;
  • membrane and ion probes;
  • cell migration and invasion;
  • bioluminescent proteins;
  • epitope tagging;
  • cellular metabolism, oxidative reactions;
  • Cytotoxicity;
  • Stem cell research;
 


In addition, the Unit also provides basic protocols and all reagents needed to perform manually routine histological stainings (e.g. H&E and immune staining).

Personnel of the Unit assist scientist throughout the full process of microscopy experiments: design projects, processing data and analyzing images, and interpreting and shaping final results.


To ask for the service:

  1. preliminary contact the Confocal Microscopy unit staff;
  2. fill out the online form 'Service Request' briefly illustrating the scientific problem, type and number of samples, etc.;
  3. plan a meeting with the unit staff to discuss methods, costs, timing etc.


Contacts:
Serena Cecchetti, Francesca Spadaro, ☎ +39 06 4990 2966
Paola Sestili, ☎ +39 06 4990 3696
Where we are: building 20, floor 2, room 6
FIXME To be revised.
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