The confocal microscope focuses a single plane of light through a biological substance, allowing high resolution, three-dimensional images to be built up. The instrument is especially useful for studies of thick specimens such as tissues, organs, and even organisms, and provides 3-D projections as well as images of individual planes of samples. It is used extensively in neurobiology and cell biology. The system is suitable for excitation of common wave length fluorochrome dyes, such as fluororescein, rhodamine, Texas red and propidium iodide. Data can be transferred from the facility via Iomega zip disk.
Data storage is accomplished using zip and optical density disks.
Scientists here are using the confocal microscope to study a variety of phenomena ranging from calcium concentration transients and cytoskeletal modifications at the intracellular level, to neuronal connectivity and morphogenetic movements in the intracellular matrix at the supracellular level and cardiac muscle physiology. This facility is widely used by faculty and students from many disciplines. Instruction on use of the confocal microscope system is available.