MMI SL microCut Laser Microdissection System

描述（由申请人提供）：大脑由多种细胞类型（神经元、星形胶质细胞、少突胶质细胞、肥大细胞、血管细胞、血细胞等）组成，它们以高度复杂的方式相互作用。此外，给定区域内神经元的神经化学特性是高度异质的。为了更好地理解神经变性和神经系统疾病、运动障碍、创伤性/缺血性脑损伤、脑肿瘤、伤害感受和发育的机制，或者为了开发有效的基因治疗载体，必须能够从中枢或外周神经系统的组织切片或从组织/细胞培养物中分离同质细胞群。激光捕获显微镜（LCM）是一种新的工具，可以进行这样的显微切割和研究基因，甚至使用经典的组织化学技术，选择性抗体或凝集素染色的细胞中的蛋白质表达。虽然市场上有几种相互竞争的LCM系统，但基于略有不同的技术，我们确定Molecular Machines & Industries SL microCut激光显微切割系统最适合我们用户组（马萨诸塞州总医院神经科学中心）的各种需求。本申请的目的是建议购买该仪器，以便将其用作核心设施，与中心现有的核心设施（图像分析和共聚焦显微镜、真实的时间PCR、单克隆抗体生产以及病毒载体设计和生产）协调和协同工作。我们已经从该中心的8个不同的主要研究者那里确定了14个NIH资助的项目，这些项目将通过使用LCM得到显着增强。该仪器将由在显微镜、图像分析、激光捕获显微切割和LCM样品分析方面具有丰富经验的工作人员操作。我们相信，在神经科学中心研究人员的工作流程中整合LCM核心将显着提高我们对影响神经系统离散细胞群的过程和疾病的理解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The brain is composed of numerous cell types (neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, mast cells, vascular cells, blood cells, etc) which interact in a highly complex manner. In addition, the neurochemical identity of neurons within a given region is highly heterogeneous. In order to better understand the mechanism of neurodegenerative and neurological diseases, movement disorders, traumatic/ischemic brain injury, brain tumors, nociception and development, or to develop efficient gene therapy vectors, it is imperative to be able to isolate homogenous populations of cells from histologic sections of the central or peripheral nervous system, or from tissue/cell cultures. Laser Capture Microscopy (LCM) is a new tool to perform such a microdissection and study gene, or even protein expression in cells stained using classic histochemical techniques, selective antibodies or lectins. While several competing LCM systems are on the market, based on slightly different technologies, we have determined that the Molecular Machines & Industries SL microCut Laser Microdissection System best fits the various needs of our user's group (the Neuroscience Center of the Massachusetts General Hospital). The aims of this application is to propose the purchase of this instrument in order to use it as a core facility, in a coordinated and synergistic effort with existing core facilities in the Center (image analysis and confocal microscopy, real time PCR, monoclonal antibody production and viral vector design and production). We have identified 14 NIH-funded projects from 8 different Principal Investigators in the Center that will significantly be enhanced by the use of LCM. This instrument will be operated by a staff with a strong experience in microscopy, image analysis, laser capture microdissection and analysis of LCM samples. We believe that the integration of an LCM core within the workflow of the Neuroscience Center's researchers will markedly improve our understanding of processes and diseases affecting discrete cell populations of the nervous system.