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Effect of spatial arrangement of the basement membrane on cultured pleomorphic adenoma cells. Study by immunocytochemistry and electron and confocal microscopy.

In a cell line from human pleomorphic adenoma (AP2 cells) we studied the response of these cells to basement membrane proteins. The culture was characterized as myoepithelial-like by transmission electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry. AP2 cells were grown in contact with a reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel). Cells grown on Matrigel showed conspicuous phenotypic alterations, depending on how the substrate was applied. Cells grown on the top of Matrigel developed a dendritic phenotype, exhibiting thin, long and intercommunicating cytoplasmic extensions resembling normal myoepithelial cells. Cells grown inside Matrigel formed multi-layered clusters. Light, confocal and transmission electron microscopy showed that these clusters were formed by double-layered epithelioid cells delimiting luminal spaces. The cells facing the lumen were cuboidal, showing microvilli at the apical plasmalemmal and junctional complexes. The spatial arrangement of basement membrane is a key modulator of morphogenetic changes and cytodifferentiation of tumour myoepithelial cell lineage in culture.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗

Direct visualisation of plasmid DNA in individual chromatography adsorbent particles by confocal scanning laser microscopy.

Confocal microscopy was used for the measurement of plasmid DNA adsorbed to individual adsorbent particles intended for anion-exchange and triple helix affinity chromatography. Plasmid DNA was visualized with the fluorescent dye YOYO-1, that forms a highly fluorescent complex with double stranded DNA. Confocal images were translated into fluorescence intensity profiles and the distribution of plasmid DNA in the particles was measured. The results that adsorption of plasmid DNA mainly takes place in an outer layer of the particles. The described procedure can also be advantageously used to demonstrate triple helix formation between plasmid DNA and immobilized oligonucleotides.

Adsorption↗

Nuclear area measurement on viable cells, using confocal microscopy.

We describe a rapid procedure for the accurate measurements of nuclear areas on unperturbed living cells as used in radiobiological experiments, using the confocal laser scanning microscope. The microdosimetric interpretation of radiobiological data requires precise information on the nuclear area of cells as irradiated with high-LET radiation.

Animals↗

Digital image acquisition in in vivo confocal microscopy.

A flexible system for the real-time acquisition of in vivo images has been developed. Images are generated using a tandem scanning confocal microscope interfaced to a low-light-level camera. The video signal from the camera is digitized and stored using a Gould image processing system with a real-time digital disk (RTDD). The RTDD can store up to 3200 512 x 512 pixel images at video rates (30 images s-1). Images can be input directly from the camera during the study, or off-line from a Super VHS video recorder. Once a segment of experimental interest is digitized onto the RTDD, the user can interactively step through the images, average stable sequences, and identify candidates for further processing and analysis. Examples of how this system can be used to study the physiology of various organ systems in vivo are presented.

Animals↗

Real-time confocal microscopy and calcium measurements in heart muscle cells: towards the development of a fluorescence microscope with high temporal and spatial resolution.

Preliminary experiments and characterization of a modified confocal fluorescence microscope have been carried out and are presented in this article. We have made use of commercially available hardware and software (having modified and extended the system) and are continuing the process of making modifications to this system to enable us to carry out investigations in living and mobile cells. We report on identified problems in measuring intracellular calcium in myocardial cells, important lessons that have been learned and new findings regarding myocardial cells. Specifically, we have found that myocardial cellular organelles (e.g. nuclei and mitochondria) are sharply defined unlike images obtained with standard epifluorescence microscopes using intracellular indicators. Furthermore, we show that the organelles can accumulate or largely exclude certain indicators relative to the concentration in the cytosol. Additionally, we have examined the use of the new calcium indicator fluo-3 in contracting heart cells and have more clearly defined certain limitations in its use in this preparation. We are working on modifications of the present equipment to enable the system to work with an ultraviolet laser as a light source. The confocal microscope offers the prospect of extraordinarily good spatial and temporal resolution under specific conditions in heart cells.

Animals↗

Axial apodization in 4Pi-confocal microscopy by annular binary filters.

We present a novel technique for considerably decreasing the sidelobe height of the axial point-spread function of one-photon 4Pi-confocal microscopes. By means of a numerical example, in which the ratio between the excitation and the fluorescence wavelengths was set to epsilon = lambdaexc/lambdadet = 0.8, we show that simply inserting a pair of properly designed two-ring binary masks in the illumination set allows the height of the axial sidelobes to be reduced from 20% to 5% of the height of the central peak. This allows one to receive the full benefit of the strong narrowness of the central lobe provided by the 4Pi-confocal technique.

Journal Article↗

Distribution of a nuclear envelope antigen during the syncytial mitoses of the early Drosophila embryo as revealed by laser scanning confocal microscopy.

The changing distribution of a nuclear envelope antigen recognized by a monoclonal antibody raised against human fibroblast vimentin during the syncytial mitoses of the Drosophila embryo has been studied with a confocal laser scanning microscope. The antigen appears very early as irregular aggregates in the peripheral cytoplasm of the preblastoderm embryo. As the first nuclei reach the periplasm the antigen is localized on the nuclear envelope and the cytoplasmic staining decreases. In addition to the perinuclear labeling we observed intense midzone and polar staining during the mitotic cycle. A possible relationship between polar localization of the antigen and centrosome position is discussed.

Animals↗

Polarized Raman confocal microscopy of single gallium nitride nanowires.

Polarized Raman spectra and corresponding Raman scattering intensity images of an isolated gallium nitride nanowire with a diameter of 170 nm are presented. The sensitivity of the confocal microscope combined with a high-resolution piezoelectric stage enables analysis of the crystalline phase and crystallographic orientation of an individual nanowire with an excellent spatial and spectral resolution in a short acquisition time.

Journal Article↗

A method for spatio-temporal (4-D) data representation in confocal microscopy: application to neuroanatomical plasticity.

This paper describes a new method for data representation and visualization in four dimensions (three dimensions plus time). Sequential volumes, exhibiting morphological activity, are acquired non-invasively with a confocal scanning laser microscope, where each data set corresponds to a time sample. A pipelined processing includes packing of volumes and specific volume rendering techniques. Subsequent processing in HIS (hue, intensity, saturation)l colour space combines functional, packed images with shaded three-dimensional views. As a result, even subtle changes in morphology become visible and computational time is saved. Experimental findings obtained from investigations of synaptic plasticity in cultured retinal tissue are reported.

Algorithms↗

Three-dimensional co-localization of nucleolar argyrophilic components and DNA in cell nuclei by confocal microscopy.

Silver dots deposited specifically on proteins of the nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NOR proteins) after a one-step silver staining technique were visualized in cells in culture, in cells in smears, and in tissue sections, with a scanning laser confocal microscope working in the reflectance mode. After specific labeling of DNA with the fluorescent dye chromomycin A3, DNA and silver dots could be observed either individually or simultaneously. Therefore, it was possible to study the three-dimensional organization of nucleolar silver-stained structures relative to DNA with a high X, Y, and Z resolution. Our results showed that the argyrophilic components are organized as a twisted necklace structure within interphase nucleoli of cells in culture. We also demonstrated a striking three-dimensional symmetric disposition of NORs within the two sets of chromosomes in telophase cells. Similar results were obtained for cells in smears, although their three-dimensional organization was somewhat disturbed due to air-drying. We also demonstrated that silver dots cannot be visualized in the reflectance mode within sections of paraffin-embedded tissues. However, their simultaneous demonstration in non-confocal transmitted light, together with that of DNA in confocal mode, appeared very useful to study their localization within nuclei and mitotic chromosomes.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Multiple Beam Interference Confocal Microscopy: Tool for Morphological Investigation of a Living Spermatozoon.

The interference pattern obtained from a multiple internal reflection of a spermatozoon, sandwiched between the glass plate and the cover plate, was focused on the objective of a scanning confocal microscope. According to optical path differences, morphological details were revealed. The combined features, namely improved resolution in z axis, originating from the interference pattern and the optical sectioning of the confocal scanning system, enhanced the resolution and contrast in an impressive manner. These features permitted unprecedented images of the spermatozoon to be obtained at 0.1 µm optical sectioning and reconstruction of three-dimensional (3-D) images. With the help of optical sectioning, it was possible to estimate the thickness and the morphological details of the spermatozoon.

Journal Article↗

Single cell analysis of the expression of a nuclear protein, SCIP, by fluorescent immunohistochemistry visualized with confocal microscopy.

A widely applicable method for the accurate quantification or semiquantification of macromolecules at the level of individual cells is described and validated; this is a method which may considerably facilitate the study of many biological processes. This method relies on measuring fluorescent emission in immunocytochemically labelled cells with a confocal microscope. Emission is related quantitatively to the level of the fluorophore by the combination of an analysis of the polarization of the fluorescent emission and fluorophore rationing methods. The method was applied to the study of the expression of the suppressed cyclic AMP-induced POU protein (SCIP) transcription factor in glial cells of the central nervous system. In particular, the method allowed the study of transcription factor expression in defined cells present in heterogeneous cultures and in cell types which cannot be isolated in sufficient numbers for biochemical analysis using conventional techniques.

Animals↗

Three-dimensional confocal microscopy and visualization of the in situ cornea.

The in situ cornea is an ideal test specimen to evaluate techniques for 3D reconstruction and visualization of unstained, unfixed, transparent living tissues from a stack of optical sections. The 0.4 mm thick transparent specimen has been optically sectioned into 365 sections using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) with a water immersion objective. Depth-dependent light attenuation due to absorption and scatter within the specimen was manually compensated at each sampled section. A water immersion microscope minimized the spherical aberrations that would have occurred with the use of an oil immersion objective. Isometric sampling resulted in near-cubic voxels, which compensated for the reduced microscopic resolution in the z axis as compared to x and y resolution.

Animals↗

Visualization of alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate microcapsules by confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to study the distribution of polymers and cross-linking ions in alginate-poly-L-lysine (PLL) -alginate microcapsules made by fluorescent-labeled polymers. CLSM studies of Ca-alginate gel beads made in the presence and absence of non-gelling sodium ions revealed a more inhomogeneous distribution of alginate in beads formed in the absence of non-gelling ions. In the formation of alginate-PLL capsules, the polymer gradients in the preformed gel core were destabilized by the presence of non-gelling ions in the washing step and in the PLL solution. Ca-alginate gels preserved the inhomogeneous structure by exposure to ion-free solution in contrast to exposure to non-gelling ions (Na(+)). By exchanging Ca(2+) with Ba(2+) (10 mM), extremely inhomogeneous gel beads were formed that preserved their structure during the washing and exposure to PLL in saline. PLL was shown to bind at the very surface of the alginate core, forming a shell-like membrane. The thickness of the PLL-layer increased about 100% after 2 weeks of storage, but no further increase was seen after 2 years of storage. The coating alginate was shown to overlap the PLL layer. No difference in binding could be observed among coating alginates of different composition. This paper shows an easy and novel method to study the distribution of alginate and PLL in intact microcapsules. As the labeling procedures are easy to perform, the method can also be used for a variety of other polymers in other microencapsulation systems.

Alginates↗

Competitive adsorption of labeled and native protein in confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Confocal laser scanning microscopy has been previously applied to the study of protein uptake in porous chromatography resins. This method requires labeling the protein with a fluorescent probe. The labeled protein is then diluted with a large quantity of native protein so that the fluorescence intensity is a linear function of the labeled protein concentration. Ideally, the attachment of a fluorescent probe should not affect the affinity of the protein for the stationary phase; however, recent experimental work has shown that this assumption is difficult to satisfy. In the present study, we present a mathematical model of protein diffusion and adsorption in a single adsorbent particle. The differences in adsorption behavior of labeled and native protein are accounted for by treating the system as a two-component system (labeled and native protein) described by the steric mass action isotherm (SMA). SMA parameters are regressed from experimental linear gradient elution data for lysozyme and lysozyme-dye conjugates (for the fluorescent dyes Cy3, Cy5, Bodipy FL, and Atto635). When the regressed parameters are employed in the model, an overshoot in the labeled lysozyme concentration is predicted for Cy5- and Bodipy-labeled lysozyme, but not for Atto635-labeled lysozyme. The model predictions agree qualitatively well with recent work showing the dependence of the concentration overshoot on the identity of the attached dye and provide further evidence that the overshoot is likely caused by the change of binding characteristics due to the fluorescent label.

Adsorption↗

Spatial topography of a pericentromeric region (1q12) in hemopoietic cells studied by in situ hybridization and confocal microscopy.

A fluorescent in situ hybridization procedure with a chromosome 1-specific (1q12) repetitive satellite DNA probe was used to label the 1q12 regions of the chromosomes 1 in spherical and polymorphic hemopoietic cell nuclei. The entire procedure was performed in suspension to preserve nuclear morphology. The result was studied by three-dimensional analysis, as provided by a scanning laser confocal microscope. The 1q12 regions of chromosome 1 were measured to be closely associated with the nuclear envelope in isolated nuclei of unstimulated diploid human lymphocytes. The relative positions to each other in the periphery of these spherical nuclei could not be distinguished from a random distribution pattern. In the diploid and tetraploid polymorphic nuclei of cells of the promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL60 these pericentromeric sequences were also associated with the nuclear surface.

Cell Nucleus↗

Segmentation and measurement based on 3D Voronoi diagram: application to confocal microscopy.

Computational geometry provides many solutions to imaging problems, especially for three-dimensional (3D) image compression, segmentation, and measurement. We present here a new method to partition volume data by Voronoi polyhedra structured in a graph environment. A dynamic construction of the 3D Voronoi diagram is proposed, using image information interactively. The process has been applied to segment and quantitate 3D biological data acquired with a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The discrete volume acquired represents a large mass of data and can be reduced with this particular method, before measurement (processing time) or archiving (memory space). Furthermore, the structure data is a powerful tool to rapidly compute parameters that are characteristic of the volume data.

Algorithms↗

Colocalization of organelle-specific proteins to autofluorescent astrocyte granules by laser scanning confocal microscopy.

Astrocytes in aging periventricular brain regions and in cysteamine-treated neonatal brain cell cultures contain cytoplasmic inclusions that exhibit an affinity for Gomori stains, orange-red autofluorescence, and non-enzymatic peroxidase activity. In order to delineate the cellular constituents participating in the biogenesis of these astrocytic inclusions, colocalization of FITC-immunolabeled organelles to the red autofluorescent granules was analyzed using a laser scanning confocal imaging system. Areas of true colocalization exhibited yellow fluorescence which persisted in Z-axis image reconstructions. We observed no colocalization of catalase- and PMP70-positive peroxisomes or the Golgi apparatus to the autofluorescent inclusions. The rough endoplasmic reticulum exhibited infrequent dot-like regions of colocalization consistent with previous electron microscopic observations. A minority of early endosomes colocalized to the autofluorescent inclusions in perinuclear cytoplasm. There was extensive colocalization of lgp120-labeled lysosomes to larger autofluorescent granules in close proximity to the nucleus whereas smaller autofluorescent granules often remained unlabeled. A macroautophagic process involving lysosomes and to lesser extent, early endosomes and the rough endoplasmic reticulum, may participate in the biogenesis of autofluorescent astrocytic inclusions in cysteamine-treated glial cultures and in the aging periventricular brain.

Aging↗