title: Three-dimensional imaging of intact isolated islets of Langerhans with confocal microscopy.
abstract: We present a new technique for analyzing the three-dimensional structure of intact isolated islets of Langerhans. Adult rat and human islets were stained with whole-mount immunofluorescence techniques and optically sectioned with a confocal microscope. This has several advantages over traditional methods: 1) the technical difficulties in serial sectioning and handling the large numbers of sections are avoided, 2) optical sectioning by confocal microscopy gives improved resolution and strongly suppresses light from out-of-focus structures, and 3) entire islets can be rapidly imaged for the presence of positive staining. This new technique should facilitate the study of the three-dimensional structure of islets of Langerhans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Neuroanatomy, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis 55455.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Brelje
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Scharp
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sorenson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D011384:Proinsulin / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D011384:Proinsulin