title: Integration of confocal and atomic force microscopy images.
abstract: Atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides the possibility to map the 3D structure of viewed objects with a nanometric resolution, which cannot be achieved with other imaging methods such as conventional video imaging and confocal fluorescent microscopy. Video imaging with CCD cameras can provide an analysis of biological events with a temporal and spatial resolution not possible with AFM, while confocal imaging allows the simultaneous acquisition of immunofluorescence images. In this communication we present a simple method to combine AFM and confocal images to study differentiating embryonic stem (ES) cells-derived and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons in culture. Neurons were grown on coverslips with micrometric markers that allow finding and imaging the same neuron with different microscopes. AFM and confocal images were registered using conventional methods used in Computer Science. The combination of these two techniques allows relating functional properties to morphological features of imaged neurons.
authors.affiliation: International School for Advanced Studies, Area Science Park, Basovizza 34012 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Shripad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kondra
authors.forename: Jummi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laishram
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ban
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Migliorini
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Foggia
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazzarino
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.forename: Maria Elisabetta
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ruaro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D044962:Data Compression / Q000379:methods; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar