School of Medicine

Imaging and Cell Analysis Core

Core Instruments

Three confocal microscopes are available: Nikon A1R, standard Leica SP8, and Leica Falcon SP8 with a high-speed resonant scanner, fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) capability and deconvolution software.

New CNR Users

New users should complete this form first, followed by scheduling training with the equipment to be used. Emails for CNR training personnel are listed in the links to the cores below.

Training for Instrument Use

All new imaging core users must be trained on confocal, TIRF or Keyence microscopes before signing up to use them. For training on the Nikon confocal microscope, please contact Iris Montes. To use the Nikon TIRF microscope, please contact Dr. Selene Lomoio. For use of the Leica instruments, please contact Dr. Moritz Armbruster. To be trained on the Keyence microscope, please contact Morgan Heileman. Access imaging core sign-up calendars here.

Contact

  • For access to Stearns 207A, contact Grant Weiss.
  • For issues with the Leica instruments or to modify calendar reservations for any instrument, contact Dr. Moritz Armbruster.
  • For help with the Nikon A1R, contact Iris Montes.

Manager
Mortiz Armbruster, PhD

Location 
Stearns 207

Please follow the links below or contact core personnel for information about services and fees.

  • The current fee structure for academic users of the confocal and TIRF microscopes is as follows:

    • Leica SP8  Falcon - $50/hour
    • Leica SP8 - $50/hour
    • Nikon A1R - $50/hour
    • TIRF - $40/hour *
    • Keyence - $15/hour
    • Imaris Software - $10/hour
    • Confocal Microscope Training - $150

    * For longer TIRF experiments, $40/hour for the first 8 hours and then $10/hour thereafter.

    For non-academic fee structure, please contact Grant Weiss.

  • The facility has an automated stitching epifluorescence system, the Keyence, which is capable of imaging 4 channels (excitation at 405nm, 488nm, 561nm, 647nm) as well as brightfield and can scan three slides at a time. There are objective for 2,4,10 and 20x magnification and filter cbues for DAPI, GFP, RFP and Cy5 fluorescence ranges.

  • Three confocal microscopes are available: Nikon A1R, standard Leica SP8, and Leica Falcon SP8 with a high-speed resonant scanner, fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) capability and deconvolution software.

    The Leica SP8s are configured with inverted microscopes, have automated stages and auto-focus, have stitching capability and are equipped with stage-top incubators for live cell imaging. Both instruments have Leica Navigator software. Excitation lines are as shown in the table below.

    The Nikon A1R confocal, located in Arnold 606, employs an inverted microscope with an automated stage and the Perfect Focus mechanism for time-lapse imaging or stitching of multiple image fields. It is also equipped with a stage top incubator. There are two scanheads available, a point scanner (conventional) and a resonant scanner. Simultaneous photoactivation/bleaching (using the 405nm laser) and imaging can be performed. Excitation lines are shown in the table below.

     Leica SP8Nikon A1RNikon TIRF
    Excitation   
         405nmxx 
         440nmx x
         457nmxx 
         488nmxxx
         514nmxxx
         561nmxxx
         594 nmx  
         639nmxxx
    Brightfieldxxx
    Live Imagingxxx
    Water Immersion Lenses   

  • The facility offers the use of Imaris for 3D image analysis, as well as NIS Elements for image quantification. IMARIS software can be used for image presentation and/or data analysis. IMARIS is well suited to handle large 3 and 4 dimensional data sets, with packages for co-localization, 3D rendering, neuron/astrocyte reconstruction, and more. IMARIS workstation is available in Arnold 309. Please contact Moritz Armbruster for more information.

  • TIRF (total internal reflection flurorescence) microscopy produces very thin optical sections by creating an evanescent wave of excitation just 100nm above the coverslip without exciting molecules deeper within the specimen.  This results in optical sections much thinner than those obtained by the confocal microscope, but specimens must be within the evanescent excitation wave and must be mounted in aqueous media.  This inverted microscope is equipped with DIC and Perfect Focus, and does have a stage top incubator for live cell studies.  There is a choice of two cameras, an EM-CCD and an ORCA-ER CCD. 

    The laser excitation lines available include 442nm, 488nm, 514nm, 561nm, and 639nm. 

    Single channel imaging filter sets are available for 488 nm, 561 nm, and 639 nm excitable fluorochromes, and almost simultaneous dual channel imaging for 488 /561 nm is possible. A quadruple filter cube (442/514/561/639nm) can be used for CFP/YFP/RFP/far red imaging.