MICROSCOPE/IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM

光学显微镜、摄像机设计、 和数字图像处理技术使观察生物 这是以前看不见的过程。 所要求的设备 本申请将用于此目的。 它将由以下人员共享： 医学院五个系的八个用户。 研究 项目涉及广泛的生物问题，不能被 在没有这种设备的情况下进行，否则将无法使用这种设备。 用户. 一些项目将涉及使用特定的分子（荧光团） 它的荧光可以提供细胞的电学参数 活性，或重要细胞成分的量，如 特定的离子或细胞表面分子。 为了避免损伤细胞 为了检测非常少量的荧光， 必须使用增强图像的照相机。 此外，数字 处理将增强图像的对比度，并将用于 量化所研究的细胞成分的水平。 其他项目将不需要荧光显微镜或低光 程度. 相反，这些将使用差分干扰（DIC） 显微镜，以实现细胞的非常高的空间分辨率， 研究了 数字图像处理将进一步提高空间 分辨率 亚细胞成分，与普通不可见 显微镜，然后将观察。 在两种类型的实验（荧光和DIC显微镜）中，特异性 关于表情、动作、性格和组织的假设 细胞的特化将被测试。 其中包括细胞研究， 迁移，轴突延伸，微管和囊泡运动，离子泵 和通道分布，以及神经元中特定蛋白质的表达。

Recent technological advances in light microscopy, video camera design, and digital image processing have made it possible to observe biological processes that were previously invisible. The equipment requested in this application will be used for this purpose. It will be shared by eight users in five departments of the Medical School. The research projects, which cover a wide spectrum of biological problems, cannot be performed without this equipment, which is otherwise unavailable to the users. Some projects will involve the use of specific molecules (fluorophores) whose fluorescence will provide a measure of a cell's electrical activity, or the amount of important cell constituents, such as particular ions or cell surface molecules. To avoid damaging the cells with light, and to detect very low amounts of fluorescence, a video camera which intensifies the image must be used. In addition, digital processing will enhance the contrast of the image, and will be used to quantify the level of cell constituents under study. Other projects will not require fluorescence microscopy or low light levels. Instead, these will use differential interference (DIC) microscopy to achieve a very high spatial resolution of the cells being studied. Digital image processing will further enhance the spatial resolution. Subcellular constituents, invisible with ordinary microscopy, will then be observed. In both types of experiments (fluorescence and DIC microscopy), specific hypotheses about the expression, movement, disposition, and organization of cell specializations will be tested. Included are studies of cell migration, neurite extension, microtubule and vesicle movement, ion pump and channel distribution, and expression of specific proteins in neurons.