Light Microscopy Core

Hours
Daytime hours for the Light Microscopy Core are 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday. Users who have received training and are wanting to use the Light Microscopy Core after hours can obtain a key from Ms. Sarah Rolling. Policies regarding the signing out of keys and use of the facility after hours are listed under Policies and Scheduling.

Instrumentation
The light microscopy core is located in Room B907 in the basement of the Medical Sciences Building. Major imaging equipment in the facility includes a Zeiss LSM 510 META confocal system coupled to a Zeiss Axiophot 200 inverted epifluorescence microscope, an Olympus Fluoview 300 confocal system coupled to an Olympus IX70 inverted fluorescence microscope, and a Zeiss ConfoCor2 fluorescence correlation spectroscopy unit. In addition, a Nikon Microphot-FX fluorescence microscope and a Nikon Diaphot inverted fluorescence microscope equipped with phase contrast optics and a Spot II CCD camera are available. The Zeiss 510 META confocal microscope is a multichannel system with several laser lines (458-613 nm) capable of imaging a wide variety of fluorochromes in both preserved and live tissues and cells. The spectral META detector provides the ability to separate fluorochrome signals with overlapping emission characteristics and thus further increases flexibility for studies involving multiple fluorescent labels. The Olympus Fluoview confocal microscope is a three channel system capable of detecting emissions resulting from excitation at 488 and/or 543 nm, and simultaneously acquiring DIC images. A computer workstation is available for linear unmixing and FRET analysis.

Consultation Services
Consultation regarding the feasibility of applying confocal microscopy to particular research questions involving tissue and cultured cells (fixed and live) are available. Consultants include Dr. Bryon Grove (bgrove@medicine.nodak.edu) and Dr. Michael Atkinson (matkinson@medicine.nodak.edu).

Technical Services and Training
The light microscopy core facility provides maintenance services for, and oversight of, the instrumentation. In addition, training in the use and care of the imaging equipment is available. Training is provided by either the confocal microscopy technician or the core director. This includes training in the procedures for start-up and shut-down of the systems, basic use of the software and microscopes, and can be extended to include various approaches such as Z-series and time-series acquisitions, and imaging for FRAP, FRET, FLIP and DIC applications. Trainees are expected to develop the skills necessary to work independently. Specific software for Zeiss image processing and post-acquisition data analysis currently is available on a workstation.

User Responsibilities
Training on the equipment is required and users will need to demonstrate an adequate level of expertise in use and care of the confocal systems before being permitted independent access to the facility. Sample preparation and consumable supplies will be the responsibility of the user. Also needed are image data storage devices (able to handle approximately one gigabyte of data in some applications) and image analysis software.

Documents

• Policies and Scheduling *
• Key Sign-Out Sheet *

* both documents contain information regarding after-hours usage

Contact Us
If you will be a first-time user or would like to discuss feasibility issues, contact either Dr. Bryon Grove (7-2579; bgrove@medicine.nodak.edu) or Ms. Sarah Rolling (7-3399; srolling@medicine.nodak.edu). For scheduling information or other questions contact Ms. Sarah Rolling (7-3399; srolling@medicine.nodak.edu).