Confocal Microscopy
Confocal microscopy is used for imaging fluorescent signals, usually in fixed specimens. It generates high resolution optical sections.
This is a C. elegans
embryo at the 2-cell stage (bigger AB cell at bottom, P1 at the top). Red represents the membrane, green represents the microtubules (MTs) and blue shows its chromosome. This image combines images from 3 different channels. The membrane, MTs and chromosome were imaged using 3 channels, color-mapped to 3 colors (red, green, and blue).
LSCM Compared to Widefield Fluorescence Microscopy
By applying pinhole aperature to LSCM:
(Eliminate out-of-focus flare, 90 KB, movie length: 52″)
(The thickness of optical section is controllable, 160 KB, movie length: 15″)
Credits
- LSCM image: Maria Vidal, the John White Lab at UW-Madison
- Images in “Eliminate out-of-flare” flash movie: Haining Zhang, the John White Lab at UW-Madison
- Images & movies in “The thickness of section is controllable” flash movie: Jayne Squirrell, the John White Lab at UW-Madison