Upgrade to Confocal Facility

描述（由申请人提供）：这是一个由10名研究人员组成的小组申请安装蔡司LSM 780，这是新一代共聚焦显微镜，适用于视网膜电路和发育的多通道分析。该模型具有“猪尾”激光输入，以适应各种激光线，高效率/低噪声检测器和光谱分析。这些发展将使进行4或5个通道标记实验成为可能。LSM 780是独立的，菜单驱动，适用于多用户设施。该仪器将被安装在眼科视力中心的共聚焦模块中。这个视觉核心设施被10名研究人员大量使用，进行视觉系统的研究，其中8名由NEI， NIH项目支持。该服务合同将由眼科提供支持，并且这组调查员不收取任何费用。该小组因视网膜成像研究而闻名，最近在同行评审期刊上刊登了6张封面照片。从广义上讲，我们试图理解哺乳动物视网膜的结构、功能和发育；这些知识可能会带来新的策略，以减轻由光感受器变性、青光眼或糖尿病视网膜病变引起的视力障碍。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This is an application by a group of 10 investigators to install a Zeiss LSM 780, a new generation confocal microscope suitable for multi-channel analysis of retinal circuitry and development. This model has "pig-tail" laser inputs to accommodate a variety of laser lines, high efficiency/low noise detectors and spectral analysis. These developments will make it possible to conduct 4 or 5 channel labeling experiments. The LSM 780 is self contained and menu-driven making it suitable for a multi-user facility. The instrument will be installed in the Confocal Module of the Vision Core Grant housed in the Department of Ophthalmology. This Vision Core facility is heavily used by 10 investigators conducting research on the visual system, including 8 supported by NEI, NIH programs. The service contract will be supported by the Ophthalmology department and there will be no usage charges for this group of investigators. The group is very well known for imaging studies of the retina with 6 recent cover pictures in peer-reviewed journals. In the broadest terms, we seek to understand the structure, function and development of the mammalian retina; such knowledge may lead to new strategies to alleviate visual disorders resulting from photoreceptor degeneration, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The mammalian retina is our window to the visual world. It is a complex self-optimizing network built from approximately 60 types of neurons. We will use multi-channel imaging techniques to discover new cell types, to relate structure to function, to decode neural circuits and to follow the steps of retinal development. A sound base of such knowledge is essential to develop new strategies to alleviate retinal conditions leading to blindness.