title: Basic confocal microscopy.
abstract: This comprehensive overview unit introduces the reader to confocal microscopy from the basic principles of imaging and optical sectioning, to selection of laser, practical guidelines for fixation, choice of fluorophore, control samples, and mounting the sample. There are also suggestions for optimizing the imaging parameters.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000032:analysis; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D055095:Optics and Photonics
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes