CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY CORE FACILITY
Director (Acting): James W. Jacobberger, PhD
Professor, General Medical Sciences (Oncology)
jwj@case.edu
Services and Resources
The Confocal Microscopy Core provides high-end microscopic imaging systems, expertise, and methods for cell based analysis. The operational design provides services in (1) independent mode, in which the investigator performs the analysis after appropriate training by facility staff; (2) dependent mode, in which the facility manager performs the analysis for the investigator with samples that the investigator has prepared or facility staff performs the entire experiment for the investigator.
In order to schedule time on the confocal, click here.
*New Microscope*
Read about the recently acquired fluorescence microscope here.
Conventional Confocal Imaging
- Zeiss LSM510 inverted confocal microscope system
- Simultaneous images of up to three different fluorophores plus transmitted light image
- Argon laser for 458, 488, and 514 nm excitation
- He-Ne lasers for 543 and 633 nm excitation
- Differential interference contrast (DIC) images
- Fixed or living specimens
- Fluorescence resonance energy transfer
- Single optical sectioning
- 3D image acquisition and rendering
Multiphoton Confocal Imaging
- Tunable Ti-Sapphire laser (Mira-F-V5-XW-220) with diode pump laser (Verdi 5 W)
- Two and three-photon imaging
- Nondestructive, low-energy imaging of living cells
- Permits imaging deep into solid tissues, e.g., tumors
Image Analysis
- Dedicated Pentium III personal computer for image acquisition
- Subsequent image analysis and processing takes place on an additional computer
- Software available includes Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premier, NIH Image, AutoQuant, CorelDraw, Micrografx Designer, SigmaPlot, SigmaStat, and PowerPoint, as well as typical spreadsheet and word processing programs.
- All computers are interconnected through a local area network, permitting rapid exchange of large image files and other data between computers.
Training
- Initial user training ($50/hour) provided by Core personnel
- Includes instruction in the safe use of lasers and in the proper handling of high-cost objectives; and a general overview of the image acquisition software
- Once a user has become experienced with the instrumentation, he/she will be allowed to use the facility independently, including nights and weekends.
Fees
The Confocal Microscopy Core Facility operates 24/7. Save money if you use the facility evenings and weekends/holidays.
| Peak (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) | Non-Peak (weekends/evenings/holidays) | ||
| Cancer Center Members: | $40 | $25 | |
| Non-Cancer Center Members: | $50 | $30 | |
During the initial training session users will be instructed regarding the safety precautions of lasers, proper handling of high cost objectives, and general overview of the image acquisition software. Core personnel will assist users in the actual conduct of experiments as long as the individual user is confident to perform experiments independently. Core personnel will assess this transition to an independent user. The hourly fee of the core personnel for assistance ($30 per hour for Cancer Center members, $40 per hour for outside users) will be charged. Once a user has become experienced with the instrumentation, he/she will be allowed to use the facility independently, including nights and weekends.
Contact for Information
| Location: | Wolstein Research Building, 3-524 & 3-141 |
| Coordinating Manager: | R. Michael Sramkoski |
| Phone: | 216/368-1021 |
| Fax: | 216/368-8919 |
| E-mail: | r.sramkoski@case.edu |