scholarly journals Lossless compression and neuron structure extraction for fluorescence microscopy confocal neuron images

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Zhang
1984 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-137
Author(s):  
D.A. Mesland ◽  
H. Spiele

In cultured H35 hepatoma cells membrane-associated cortical networks have a microtrabecular appearance as revealed by dry-cleaving. Filaments having diameters of 15 nm can be readily distinguished within these networks and have not been described previously. Microtubules are seldom observed to be part of this structure. Extraction of cells with 0.1% Saponin in microtubule-stabilizing buffer produces holes in the membrane and reorganization of the networks resulting in the loss of microtrabecular structure, the loss of 15 nm filaments and the appearance of abundant membrane-associated microtubules (about 1.25 micron per micron2 substrate-adherent membrane). These observations were confirmed by immunolabelling experiments with affinity-purified anti-tubulin immunoglobulin G. By both fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy it was shown that labelled tubulin in the cortical networks became organized into microtubules upon treatment with detergent. By determination of the microtubule density, expressed as micron microtubule per micron2 membrane, the effects of various conditions on microtubule occurrence were determined. The Saponin-induced appearance of microtubules in the membrane-associated network could be inhibited by: 1% and 2% glutaraldehyde, 0 degrees C, millimolar Ca2+, absence of Mg2+ (subsequent reversal of inhibition by addition of Mg2+ was shown), and 20 microM-nocodazole (but not 20 microM-colchicine). In addition to Saponin, extraction with 0.1% Nonidet P-40 or 0.1% Triton X-100 also resulted in microtubule-containing cortical networks. However, 0.1% Triton N-101 was not effective, although holes were produced in the plasma membrane. These data provide evidence suggesting rapid polymerization of membrane-associated microtubule protein rather than detergent-induced displacement or collapse of existing microtubules. The arguments for this hypothesis and its implications are discussed.


Author(s):  
K. Jacobson ◽  
A. Ishihara ◽  
B. Holifield ◽  
F. Zhang

Our laboratory is concerned with understanding the dynamic structure of the plasma membrane with particular reference to the movement of membrane constituents during cell locomotion. In addition to the standard tools of molecular cell biology, we employ both fluorescence recovery after photo- bleaching (FRAP) and digitized fluorescence microscopy (DFM) to investigate individual cells. FRAP allows the measurement of translational mobility of membrane and cytoplasmic molecules in small regions of single, living cells. DFM is really a new form of light microscopy in that the distribution of individual classes of ions, molecules, and macromolecules can be followed in single, living cells. By employing fluorescent antibodies to defined antigens or fluorescent analogs of cellular constituents as well as ultrasensitive, electronic image detectors and video image averaging to improve signal to noise, fluorescent images of living cells can be acquired over an extended period without significant fading and loss of cell viability.


Author(s):  
Brian Cross

A relatively new entry, in the field of microscopy, is the Scanning X-Ray Fluorescence Microscope (SXRFM). Using this type of instrument (e.g. Kevex Omicron X-ray Microprobe), one can obtain multiple elemental x-ray images, from the analysis of materials which show heterogeneity. The SXRFM obtains images by collimating an x-ray beam (e.g. 100 μm diameter), and then scanning the sample with a high-speed x-y stage. To speed up the image acquisition, data is acquired "on-the-fly" by slew-scanning the stage along the x-axis, like a TV or SEM scan. To reduce the overhead from "fly-back," the images can be acquired by bi-directional scanning of the x-axis. This results in very little overhead with the re-positioning of the sample stage. The image acquisition rate is dominated by the x-ray acquisition rate. Therefore, the total x-ray image acquisition rate, using the SXRFM, is very comparable to an SEM. Although the x-ray spatial resolution of the SXRFM is worse than an SEM (say 100 vs. 2 μm), there are several other advantages.


Author(s):  
David W. Piston

Two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy provides attractive advantages over confocal microscopy for three-dimensionally resolved fluorescence imaging. Two-photon excitation arises from the simultaneous absorption of two photons in a single quantitized event whose probability is proportional to the square of the instantaneous intensity. For example, two red photons can cause the transition to an excited electronic state normally reached by absorption in the ultraviolet. In our fluorescence experiments, the final excited state is the same singlet state that is populated during a conventional fluorescence experiment. Thus, the fluorophore exhibits the same emission properties (e.g. wavelength shifts, environmental sensitivity) used in typical biological microscopy studies. In practice, two-photon excitation is made possible by the very high local instantaneous intensity provided by a combination of diffraction-limited focusing of a single laser beam in the microscope and the temporal concentration of 100 femtosecond pulses generated by a mode-locked laser. Resultant peak excitation intensities are 106 times greater than the CW intensities used in confocal microscopy, but the pulse duty cycle of 10−5 maintains the average input power on the order of 10 mW, only slightly greater than the power normally used in confocal microscopy.


Author(s):  
D. Marsh

As a result of vasectomy, spermatozoa are confined to the epididymis and vas deferens, where they degenerate, releasing antigens that enter the circulation or are engulfed by macrophages. Multiple antigens of the sperm can elicit production of autoantibodies; circulating anti-sperm antibodies are found in a large percentage of vasectomized men, indicating the immunogenicity of the sperm. The increased prevalence of macrophages in the liomen of the rhesus monkey testicular efferent ducts after vasectomy led to further study of this region. Frozen sections were used for evaluation of immunopathological status by fluorescence microscopy with fluorescein-conjugated antibody. Subsequent granular deposits of immune complexes were revealed by positive immunofluorescence staining for complement. The immune complex deposition in the basement membrane surrounding the efferent ducts implies that this region is involved in antigen leakage (Fig. 1).


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