Leica rotary microtome

光学显微镜是研究细胞生物学的重要工具。我们对标本进行连续切片的能力是研究生物体的一项关键技术。用于标本嵌入的塑料的改进以及切片机的改进，例如允许在返回行程期间收回的功能，使我们能够连续切片塑料块。这些改进大大提高了组织学研究的质量。这项RTI资助申请是为了支持我目前从NSERC获得的发现资助。我实验室里的Reichert旋转切片机大约有25年的历史了。这种型号的制造商Reichert Jung已经停业了。由于大量使用这台切片机，传动轴已经在6年前更换过一次。最近，在标本推进之前，切割臂的回缩变得不稳定。不能一致地获得串行切片。无法获得连续切片使得解释困难，也增加了在3 μ m厚度的单个块上切片所需的时间。这大大降低了我们的生产力。因此，为了继续我们的结构研究，必须提出这个申请。从教学角度来看，近年来，解剖学研究方面的学生越来越少。这个领域的研究被认为是过时的。相反，显微镜的不同领域正在发生迅速的变化，对显微镜专家援助的需求继续增加。通过使用不同的实验系统和我们的经验，我们继续在这一研究领域培养高素质的人才，但我们需要这些工具来实现我们的目标。

Light microscopy is an essential tool for cell biology.  Our ability to make serial sections of specimens is a key technique in the study of an organism.  Improvements in the plastics used for specimen embedding  together with improvements in the microtome, such as the feature allowing for retraction during the return stroke, enables us to serially section plastic blocks.  These improvements greatly enhance the quality of histological studies.  This RTI grant application is to support my current Discovery Grant from NSERC.   The Reichert rotary microtome in my laboratory is approximately 25 years old. The manufacturer of this model, Reichert Jung is no longer in business.  Due to heavy use of this microtome, the drive shaft has already been replaced once 6 years ago.  Lately, the retraction of the cutting arm prior to specimen advancement has become erratic.  Serial sections cannot be obtained consistently. The inability to obtain serial sections makes interpretation difficult and also increases the time needed to section through a single block at 3 µm thickness.  This greatly reduces our productivity. Thus, in order to continue our structural studies, this application has to be made.From a teaching perspective, in recent years, fewer and fewer students are being trained in anatomical research.  This area of research is perceived to be old-fashioned.  On the contrary, rapid changes are taking place in different areas of microscopy and the need for assistance by microscopists continues to increase.  Through the use of different experimental systems and our experience, we continue to train high quality personnel in this area of research, but we need the tools in order to accomplish our goal.