CONFOCAL MICROSCOPE IMAGING SYSTEM

共聚焦扫描成像光学显微镜开始商业化 1987年。生物界立刻激动不已。 用荧光标记的细胞和亚细胞结构的细节 深藏在组织中的染料或反射金色可以用极大的 清晰度。来自散焦组织的散射光在 焦面几乎完全消除了。三维 组织的重建可以从一系列光学技术发展而来 在焦平面采集的图像通过组织进行扫描。 标记的活组织的非破坏性高分辨率图像 电压和离子敏感染料遵循电池和离子的动态过程 细胞器功能。许多关于空间关系的研究 难度和巨大的耗时现在相对来说 直截了当。我们现在是第二代仪器 发展。这项技术的实验局限性很好。 明白了。乐器的通用性增加了。不同 仪器最适合不同的调查。调查人员 现在对他们的科学目标有了相当清楚的了解 可以更有效地实现以及哪些问题没有 在实验上是可行的，现在是可能的。这是共享的 仪器设备资助申请是由一组 拥有大量PHS资金的调查人员坚定地致力于 前沿技术在他们的研究中的应用，以及 意识到安装共焦成像设施在 辛辛那提大学将在更远的地方刺激研究工作 他们具体项目的目标。建议的工具是 非常适合调查人员的所有项目。通过共享 为满足他们的需求而优化的仪器设施 昂贵得令人望而却步，因为只有一个调查员就能接触到。 研究人员在解剖学和细胞生物学系以及 分子遗传学、生物化学与微生物学。这些学校的教职员工 在医学院校中，院系是资金最充足的院系之一。 在美国。调查人员的项目包括研究 受体神经元刺激选择性、成纤维细胞的差异 肺纤维化、细胞质成分的结构和动力学， 神经内分泌系统的可塑性，皮质神经的组织 网络，通过细胞内脂类运动的代谢信号，以及 神经细胞中的病毒重新激活。调查人员被广泛地 因使用成像技术促进对 结构-功能关系并在以下方面取得了重大进展 研究方法。这项提案是为激光扫描提供资金 共焦显微镜和图像分析仪器将取得进展 他们的研究成果。每个调查人员的项目是 在以下领域开展与健康有关的高度优先的科学研究 神经科学，细胞和分子生物学。

Confocal scanned imaging light microscopes became commercially available in 1987. There was instant excitement among the biological community. Details of cellular and subcellular structures labelled with fluorescent dyes or reflective gold deep in tissues are visualized with great clarity. Scattered light from out-of-focus tissue above and below the plane of focus is almost completely eliminated. Three dimensional reconstructions of the tissue can be developed from a series of optical images acquired as the plane-of-focus is scanned through the tissue. Non-destructive high-resolution images of living tissues labeled with voltage- and ion-sensitive dyes follow dynamic processes of cell and organelle function. Many investigations of spatial relationships which were difficult and immensely time consuming are now relatively straightforward. We are now in the second generation of instrument development. Experimental limitations of the technique are well understood. Instrumental versatility is increased. Different instruments are best suited to different investigations. Investigators now have a fairly clear understanding of which of their scientific goals can be realized more effectively and of what questions which had not been experimentally practical are now possible. This Shared Instrumentation Grant application is submitted by a group of investigators with extensive PHS grant funding a strong commitment to the application of front-edge techniques to their studies, and a realization that installation of a confocal imaging facility at the University of Cincinnati will stimulate the research effort well beyond the goals of their specific projects. The instrument proposed is well-suited for all of the investigator's projects. By sharing an instrument facility optimized for their needs an instrument that would be prohibitively expensive for a single investigator becomes accessible. Investigators are in the Departments of Anatomy & Cell Biology and of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry & Microbiology. The faculty in these departments are among the most substantially funded in medical colleges in the United States. Projects of the investigators include studies of receptor neuron stimulus selectivity, fibroblast differences in pulmonary fibrosis, structure and dynamics of cytoskeltal elements, plasticity in the neuroendocrine system, organization of cortical neural networks, metabolic signaling by movement of intracellular lipids, and virus reactivation in nerve cells. The investigators are widely recognized for work using imaging techniques to advance understanding of structure-function relationships and have introduced major advances in research techniques. This proposal is for funds for a laser scanning confocal microscope and image analysis instrument which will advance their research efforts. The projects of each of the investigators are high-priority, health-related scientific studies in the fields of neuroscience, and cell and molecular biology.