Motorized rotary microtome

本提案所要求的设备将使卡尔顿大学生物系的研究人员能够对各种动植物组织进行组织学研究。所要求的电动旋转切片机是高度通用的，因为它被设计成切片软组织（如神经系统，树叶），通常包埋在石蜡，以及硬组织（如昆虫角质层，种子），必须包埋在环氧树脂（塑料）。树脂包埋材料也显示出更好的细胞细节，使研究人员能够在三维空间重建复杂的组织，如昆虫感觉器官和植物胚胎。迫切需要一种电动旋转切片机，以适应需要切片树脂包埋标本的研究人员，并适应目前在单个部门切片机上进行的大量石蜡组织学，该切片机只能切片石蜡块。Yack博士的团队将在日常基础上使用该设备来描述和阐明无脊椎动物（例如破坏性树皮甲虫，蚯蚓，蝴蝶）的新型声学感觉器官和声音产生结构的功能组织。该研究将有助于我们对动物通讯系统和感觉系统的认识，并在昆虫生物防治和微型传感装置方面具有应用价值。Drs。Rowland和Hepworth将分别使用该显微切片机研究植物保护屏障和植物发育。他们的研究项目为作物和零售植物的分子育种项目做出了贡献，以提高产量、抗寒性和观赏新颖性。所要求的设备将直接支持博士的研究项目。Yack， Rowland和Hepworth，并将补充其他教员的研究项目。Bertram, Forbes， Smith和其他人)，他们偶尔需要使用组织学设备。购置这些新设备将支持每年约20名学生的研究和培训。

The equipment requested in this proposal will enable researchers in the Biology Department at Carleton University to conduct histological studies on a wide range of animal and plant tissues. The motorized rotary microtome requested is highly versatile in that it is designed to section soft tissues (e.g. nervous system, leaves) that are typically embedded in paraffin wax, as well as hard tissues (e.g. insect cuticle, seeds) that must be embedded in epoxy-resin (plastic). Resin-embedded materials also display better cellular details and enable researchers to reconstruct complex tissues such as insect sensory organs and plant embryos in 3 dimensions. A motorized rotary microtome is urgently needed to accommodate researchers that need to section resin-embedded specimens, and to accommodate the high volume of paraffin histology now being carried out on a single departmental microtome capable of sectioning only paraffin blocks. Dr. Yack's group will use this equipment on a daily basis to describe and elucidate the functional organization of novel acoustic sensory organs and sound producing structures in invertebrates (e.g. destructive bark beetles, earthworms, butterflies). This research will contribute to our knowledge of animal communication systems and sensory systems, and have application to insect biocontrol and miniature sensing devices. Drs. Rowland and Hepworth will use this microtome to study plant protective barriers and plant development respectively. Their research programs contribute to the molecular breeding programs of crop and retail plants for enhanced yield, hardiness, and ornamental novelty. The requested equipment will directly support the research programs of Drs. Yack, Rowland and Hepworth, and will supplement research programs of other faculty members (Drs. Bertram, Forbes, Smith and others) who require usage of a histology facility on an occasional basis. The acquisition of this new equipment will support the research and training of an estimated 20 students each year.