Upgrade to Confocal Facility

描述(由申请人提供)：这是一个由10名研究人员组成的小组申请安装蔡司LSM 780的申请，这是一种适用于视网膜电路和发育的多通道分析的新一代共焦显微镜。该型号具有“猪尾”激光输入，以适应各种激光线路、高效率/低噪声探测器和光谱分析。这些进展将使进行4或5个通道标记实验成为可能。LSM 780是自包含和菜单驱动的，使其适合多用户设施。该仪器将安装在视力核心补助金的共焦模块中，该模块位于眼科。这一视觉核心设施被10名研究人员大量使用，他们对视觉系统进行研究，其中8人得到了NEI和NIH项目的支持。服务合同将得到眼科部门的支持，这组调查人员不会收取使用费。该组织以视网膜成像研究而闻名，最近在同行评议的期刊上刊登了6张封面图片。最广泛地说，我们试图了解哺乳动物视网膜的结构、功能和发育；这些知识可能会导致新的策略，以缓解由感光细胞退化、青光眼或糖尿病视网膜病变引起的视觉障碍。 与公共健康相关：哺乳动物的视网膜是我们进入视觉世界的窗口。这是一个复杂的自我优化网络，由大约60种类型的神经元组成。我们将使用多通道成像技术来发现新的细胞类型，将结构与功能联系起来，解码神经回路，并跟踪视网膜发育的步骤。这些知识的坚实基础对于开发新的策略来缓解导致失明的视网膜状况至关重要。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This is an application by a group of 10 investigators to install a Zeiss LSM 780, a new generation confocal microscope suitable for multi-channel analysis of retinal circuitry and development. This model has "pig-tail" laser inputs to accommodate a variety of laser lines, high efficiency/low noise detectors and spectral analysis. These developments will make it possible to conduct 4 or 5 channel labeling experiments. The LSM 780 is self contained and menu-driven making it suitable for a multi-user facility. The instrument will be installed in the Confocal Module of the Vision Core Grant housed in the Department of Ophthalmology. This Vision Core facility is heavily used by 10 investigators conducting research on the visual system, including 8 supported by NEI, NIH programs. The service contract will be supported by the Ophthalmology department and there will be no usage charges for this group of investigators. The group is very well known for imaging studies of the retina with 6 recent cover pictures in peer-reviewed journals. In the broadest terms, we seek to understand the structure, function and development of the mammalian retina; such knowledge may lead to new strategies to alleviate visual disorders resulting from photoreceptor degeneration, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The mammalian retina is our window to the visual world. It is a complex self-optimizing network built from approximately 60 types of neurons. We will use multi-channel imaging techniques to discover new cell types, to relate structure to function, to decode neural circuits and to follow the steps of retinal development. A sound base of such knowledge is essential to develop new strategies to alleviate retinal conditions leading to blindness.