Integration of confocal and atomic force microscopy images.
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.
Kondra
Shripad
S
International School for Advanced Studies, Area Science Park, Basovizza 34012 Trieste, Italy.
Laishram
Jummi
J
Ban
Jelena
J
Migliorini
Elisa
E
Di Foggia
Valentina
V
Lazzarino
Marco
M
Torre
Vincent
V
Ruaro
Maria Elisabetta
ME
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