Lab Use / Contracting

 

MSB 2.221 I

6431 Fannin

Houston, TX  77030

Lab  713-500-5285                        

 Imaging Lab   713-500-5260

 Fax  713-500-0730

 

 

 

PROCEDURES

If you are interested in real-time experimentation, fluorescent imaging, probe localization, or image reconstruction, then this facility is for you. Contact the Director or Supervisor and make an appointment to visit the center.

Tour the laboratory and discuss your requirements and desires, and decide if the methodology you need is in the Fluorescence Imaging Center.

The choice is now yours, either you would like the center personnel to scan, tabulate and print your data and images for you (more expensive), or yourself and your laboratory personnel can reserve time for a tutorial on the piece of equipment you wish to use. After this one time fee, you do the work and pay only for the time.

Once you are a user, you will be given user privileges, your file on the work stations and network access to your images. The rest is up to you, simply fill in the time use wish to use the machine on the calendar outside Mr. Poindexter’s office (2.434), then show up and do your imaging. At the conclusion of your stint, fill in the charge sheet, put it in the tray, and off you go.

What happens to your data? The center has capabilities for giving you your data in any, or all, of the following formats:- on CD, on Zip disc, on Jaz disc, as slides, or as prints. We recommend that you purchase your own CD's, Zip disc, or Jaz disc, although you can buy them through the Imaging Center. More information can be gleaned from the list of charges.

Charge sheet

Equipment

Molecular Dynamics 2001 CSLM (Confocal Scanning Laser Microscope)

The Molecular Dynamics is configured to allow the user to select from three (3) general techniques:

• Confocal laser scanning for fluorescence
• Confocal laser scanning for reflectance
• Laser scanning for transmittance

Single and Dual channel recordings in each of the techniques can be accomplished. Images can be acquired as single horizontal section scans, as section series (many horizontal scans), as temporal scans, or as a single vertical scan.

With the available software in the Volume Workbench module, images can be displayed as single scans, as a 3-D projection, as a projection sequence from many viewing angles, as stereo pairs, as stereo pair sequences, as a time lapse sequence or as millisecond Rapid Scans.

This confocal microscope is simple to use and, employing the incorporated ImageSpaceTM, software, presentation quality prints and slides of modeled, or volume rendered, can be rapidly produced.

DeltaVision Deconvolution System From Applied Precision

WALLAC/OLYMPUS AMERICA CONCORD SYSTEM

This system, with the Merlin upgrade, allows the ratiometric capture and quantification of a multitude of fluorescence probes.
Capture rate of images is from 10 to 100 images per second, making this system ideal for rapid kinetic studies, capacitance changes, pH alterations and ion movements.
High speed excitation wavelength changing with the SpectraMASTER monochromator.
High-Speed CCD camera with high resolution.
Capture of up to 8 wavelengths simultaneously.
Analysis of up to 100 areas in a single field simultaneously.
Rapid perfusion and temperature controlled.

CRYSTAL BIOTECH VIDEO EDGE DETECTOR

This system is used for measurement of contractility in muscle cells. Data is supplied as average percent contractility, beats/minute, development and dissipation of force. We have linked this system to a PTI fluorescence spectrophotometer, to enable the user to record fluorescence changes in parallel with contractile measurements. This is a unique combination.

The system works by attaching raster lines to the ends/edges of muscle cells, in a calibrated field. Any change in distance along or across this field causes a change in the voltage. This voltage difference is converted to percent shortening of the cell. Data is recorded, stored and printed in an easy to use Excel format, and image capture is via a TV screen and videotape. Tapes can be purchased by the individual investigators.