Acquisition of a Computer-Assisted Light Microscope

建议购买一台计算机辅助光学显微镜，用于数字数据采集和分析。该系统由一个光学显微镜组成，其载物台由步进电机通过PC接口进行三维精确控制。这种控制在计算机内存中提供了一种矢量的三维表示，这是存储和操纵跨越神经元及其所有扩展过程的尺度（从小于微米到几毫米）的对象的最有效方法。该系统将用于：1）提供选择性染色神经元的树突树和轴突分支的三维重建; 2）在细胞结构背景下精确绘制和计数选择性染色神经元。使用视频或光学叠加获得数据。光学模式使用一个微型阴极射线管直接投射到目镜，是最好的最高分辨率跟踪;视频模式将采用彩色摄像机，这将是有用的荧光标记。用户可以通过软件开关在采集模式之间进行选择，即使是在会话中和跟踪同一对象时也是如此。软件支持包括分析程序，用于提取定量信息，如长度，直径，分支和棘密度的过程，并显示三维重建。图像分析可以在用户自己的实验室中常规进行，因为该软件在构成用户计算机基础的PC和Macintosh上运行。此外，该站将通过所有用户都连接的现有以太网网络进行通信。该网络将允许从站到各个实验室的快速数据传输，并通过在部门中现有的较大计算机上远程操作软件提供额外的分析选项。 该空间站旨在促进正在进行的对神经细胞复杂结构和功能的研究。一系列项目将得到支持，包括：1）确定催产素和加压素神经元之间的形态差异及其作为分泌状态的函数的神经垂体轴突分支; 2）理解皮质纹状体轴突的发散和会聚，特别是它们与纹状体神经元的树突分支和细胞结构边界的关系; 3）确定粘附分子在轴突引导中的作用; 4）确定躯体感觉皮层中的功能可塑性是否伴随皮层神经元形态的变化; 5）理解基底节中神经元的正常组织和神经变性疾病中细胞损失的选择性。

Purchase of a computer-asslsted light microscope for digital data acquisition and analysis is proposed. The sytem consists of a light microscope, the stage of which is precisely controlled by stepping motors in three dimensions via a PC interface. This control provides a vectorial, threedimensional representation in computer memory, the most efficient means of storing and manipulating ob~ects spanning the scale (from less than micron to several millimeters) of a neuron and all its extended processes. The system will be used to: 1) provide three-dimensional reconstruction of the dendritic trees and and axonal arborizations of selectively stained neurons; and 2) to precisely plot and count selectively stained neurons in a cytoarchitectonic context. Data are acquired using either video or optical overlays. The optical mode uses a miniture cathode ray tube projected directly into the oculars and is best for the highest resolution tracing; the video mode will employ a color camera which will be useful with fluorescent markers. Users will choose between acquisition modes via software switches, even within a session and while tracing the same ob~ect. The software support includes analysis programs for extracting quantitative information such as length, diameter, branching and spine density of processes and for displaying three-dimensional reconstructions. Analysis of images can be performed routinely in the user's own labs, since the software runs on PCs and Macintoshes which make up the user computer base. Also, the station will communicate over an existing Ethemet network to which all users are connected. The network wlll allow rapid data transfer from the station to individual labs, and provide additional analysis options by remote operation of software on existing larger computers in the department.. The station is designed to faciliate ongoing studies of the complex structure and function of nerve cells. A range of projects will be supported, including: 1) determini ng the morphological differences between oxytocin and vasopressin neurons and their neurohypophysial axon arborization as a function of secretory state; 2) understanding corticostriatal axon divergence and convergence, in particular their relation to the dendritic branching of striatal neurons and to cytoarchitectonic boundaries; 3) determining the role of adhesion molecules in axonal guidance; 4) determining whether functional plasticity in somatosensory cortex is accompanied by changes in cortical neuron morphology; 5) understanding the normal organization of neurons in the basal ganglia and the selectivity of cell loss in neurodegenerative disease.