Article

Multi-field 3D scanning light microscopy of early embryogenesis.

Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
Journal of Microscopy (impact factor: 1.63). 07/2002; 206(Pt 3):209-17. pp.209-17
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT A computer-controlled microscopy system was devised to allow the observation of avian embryo development over an extended time period. Parallel experiments, as well as extended specimen volumes, can be recorded at cellular resolution using a three-dimensional scanning procedure. The resulting large set of data is processed automatically into registered, focal- and positional-drift corrected mosaic images, assembled as montages of adjacent microscopic fields. The configuration of the incubator and a sterile embryo chamber prevents condensation of the humidified culturing atmosphere in the optical path and is compatible with both differential interference contrast and epifluorescence optics. As a demonstration, recordings are presented showing the large-scale remodelling of the embryonic primordial vascular structure.

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Keywords

cellular resolution
 
computer-controlled microscopy system
 
differential interference contrast
 
embryonic primordial vascular structure
 
extended time period
 
humidified culturing atmosphere
 
large-scale remodelling
 
mosaic images
 
optical path
 
resulting large
 
specimen volumes