title: How to build a two-photon microscope with a confocal scan head.
abstract: This article provides practical guidelines for the conversion of a standard confocal microscope into a two-photon microscope. This conversion enables the investigator to have access to two-photon microscopy without the large budget necessary to purchase a commercial instrument. Two-photon fluorescence microscopy allows deep-tissue imaging in highly scattering preparations and long-term imaging of live tissue without the photodamage that is caused by out-of-focus light. It is, therefore, an essential tool for imaging cells under physiologically relevant conditions such as acute or cultured brain slices or in vivo.
authors.forename: Volodymyr
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nikolenko
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yuste
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods