NDSU’s Advanced Imaging and Microscopy laboratory recently purchased highly specialized microscopes and imaging equipment for faculty, graduate and undergraduate research with grant awards. The laboratory is located in Hultz Hall, room 203.
A Zeiss inverted Axio Observer Z1 imaging microscope, a Zeiss Laser Microdissection Pressure Catapulting System and a high-end Leica cryostat were purchased through a National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation program grant, funded under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, awarded to Anna Grazul-Bilska and Jane Schuh from the departments of animal sciences, and veterinary and microbiological sciences.
A Zeiss Lumar V12 stereoscope was purchased with a USDA grant awarded to Dale Redmer, professor of animal sciences, and Pawel Borowicz, research scientist in animal sciences. Redmer and Borowicz serve as co-directors of the Advanced Imagining and Microscopy laboratory.
The AxioObserver Z1 microscope has been assembled with advanced imaging capabilities for structured illumination that allow a three-dimensional rendering of tissue samples in fluorescence applications or z-stacking that dramatically reduces out-of-focus areas to sharpen two-dimensional images in either fluorescence or bright field applications. The microscope has both plastic and glass Differential Interference Contrast capabilities for visualization of unstained cells. Imaging software also allows for detailed analysis including number, size and shape of cells; area occupied by specific staining; size, number and density of blood vessels; localization of intracellular structures; and numerous other options.
The Zeiss Laser Microdissection Pressure Catapulting system uses a laser to dissect a microscopic area of interest away from other tissue in a frozen or formalin-fixed slice, and then catapults this tissue to a new tube for mRNA or DNA extraction for downstream analysis. In contrast to other such systems, the pressure catapulting capabilities of the Zeiss system allow live cells to be selected and subcultured into a pure population. In addition, the Zeiss system permits the focused dissection of submicron areas of fixed or frozen tissue samples for genetic analysis. The system utilizes either transmitted light or fluorescence excitation for visualization.
The Zeiss Lumar, V12 motorized stereomicroscope has the capacity to use fluorescence or bright field analysis for evaluation of structures under smaller magnification, such as a blood vessel network, a whole insect, a small plant, or a seed. The ability to precisely examine, measure, and image these small objects in applications that require both magnification and depth of field is a powerful tool that is coupled with the Zeiss image analysis software available with all of the AIM laboratory’s Zeiss equipment.
In combination, these research tools allow the precise visualization of micro- to macro-scopic samples for downstream molecular analysis, subculture, or advanced image data analysis using the software that is also available for use in the AIM laboratory. This highly-specialized equipment is now available for faculty, graduate, and undergraduate research. A series of seminars describing the mission of the AIM laboratory and the equipment described above is planned for late Spring and Fall 2011. Currently, individual training is available for any person who would like to learn how to use this equipment. To arrange individual training, contact one of the following persons: Dale Redmer (dale.redmer@ndsu.edu), Pawel Borowicz (pawel.borowicz@ndsu.edu), Anna Grazul-Bilska (anna.grazul-bilska@ndsu.edu), Jane Schuh (jane.schuh@ndsu.edu) or Scott Hoselton (scott.hoselton@ndsu.edu).