Acquisition of a Videomicroscopy Image Processing System

该提案涉及为一组神经生物学家和细胞生物学家获取视频显微镜和图像分析系统，他们的工作重点是神经元发育和细胞粘附和运动。要获得的组件被选择以不同的灵活组合方式一起工作，以满足各个研究项目的不同需求。这些功能包括：1)使用相对比、DIC或荧光染色对活细胞的生长和可塑性进行弱光观察和时移分析；2)使用fura-2荧光比成像方法对活神经元和生长锥进行钙定位，包括在伪彩色图像中表示；3)将存在于多个切片（在切片材料中）或光学聚焦平面（在整个支架中）的物体图像进行重组，生成完整三维结构的单一清晰图像；4)将不同波长下获得的双（或三）荧光染色图像进行叠加；为了更好地比较免疫染色在细胞结构中的共定位，5)增强和减少背景斑驳，使dic视频图像能够实时显示，6)提供大容量存储，检索和打印图像，并为示范和研讨会制作延时录像。

The proposal involves the acquisition of a videomicroscopy and image analysis system for a group of neurobiolgists and cell biologists whose work focuses on neuronal development and cell adhesion and motility. The components to be acquired were chosen to function together in different flexible combinations to serve the varied needs of the individual research projects. The capabilities include: 1) low light level observation and time lapse analysis of growth and plasticity of living cells using phase contrast, DIC or fluorescent staining, 2) calcium mapping in live neurons and growth cones using the fura-2 fluorescence ratio image method including representation in pseudo color images, 3) recombining of images of objects present in more than one section (in sectioned material) or optical plane of focus (in whole mounts) and generating single clear images of entire 3-D structures, 4) superimposition of images of double (or triple) fluorescent staining, obtained at different wavelengths, in order to better compare the colocalization of immunostaining in cellular structures, 5) contrast enhancement and subtraction of background mottle to permit DIC-video images in real-time, 6) provisions for mass storage, retrieval and printing of the images and the production of short time-lapse videotapes for demonstrations and seminars.