Microscopy and Image Analysis Core
Director: Christian Waeber
Location: Building 149 13th Street, Room 6501, Charlestown
| Core Summary: |
The Microscopy amd Image Analysis Core offers state-of-the-art software/hardware tools to generate and analyze quantitatively images obtained by a variety of experimental methods.
| Personnel/Contact Information: |
Director: Christian Waeber, Ph.D.
Phone: (617) 726-0768
Fax: (617) 726-2547
Email: waeber@helix.mgh.harvard.edu
Other Staff:
Research Technician: Sarah Tyndall
Phone: (617) 726-6939
Fax: (617) 726-2547
Email: styndall@partners.org
| Facilities and Equipment: |
Location of Core:
The facility is located at Building 149 13th Street, Room 6501, Charlestown.
Major Equipment:
For image acquisition, users have a choice between
a Zeiss LSM Pascal confocal microscope
(operated by the Confocal Microscope Core), a Nikon E800 microscope with epifluorescence
illumination, a Nikon Coolscan 9000 slide scanner and a GE Typhoon Variable
Mode Imager.
The Nikon microscope has a XY motorized stage and focus drive with encoder
unit attached to a Roper Coolsnap cf mono cooled integrating camera, connected
to a workstation running the central image analysis application of this core,
Imaging Research’s MCID Elite. Images of objects such as whole brains,
microtiters plates or films can also be acquired with the Roper Coolsnap camera
with a macro lens mounted onto a copy stand. The Elite system can analyze images
of any kind or format, acquired using the Zeiss confocal microscope or any
other imaging device (including video recordings for time lapse studies) and
brought to the workstation via the network, on a CD-Rom or a Zip disk. Other
image analysis software available are Improvision Volocity (3D analysis), Microbrightfield
StereoInvestigator (stereology) and Phoretix 2 D-Evolution (2D gel analysis).
| Services: |
The Microscopy and Image Analysis core offers tools
to both acquire and analyze images of various natures. An essential function
of the core is to offer training, consultation and
assistance during image acquisition and analysis. The Core offers the following
services:
►Quantitative
regional autoradiography: This mode of analysis is used for regional
receptor
binding and functional mapping (e.g. blood flow).
►Gel/blot
Analysis: The Elite software includes linear and nonlinear calibration
in two
dimensions, corrections for gel artifacts (e.g. “smiling” gel),
automated and manual lane and
peak detection, and flexible baseline subtraction, as well as calibration for
known standards
(e.g. radioactive, calibrated optical density tablet).
►3D
Reconstruction: The Elite software includes a powerful, flexible, and
easy-to-use 3D
reconstruction system, fully integrated with the MCID™ image analyzer.
►Grain
Counting: This generic counting mode is applicable to cells in sections
or cultures,
grains, and other discrete objects.
►Fluorescence
Imaging: The Elite system includes extensive image fusion functions,
with
flexible adjustment of color, intensity, and transparency of each discrete
fluorochrome,
combination of images of different fluorochromes, as well as digital confocal
deconvolution
using nearest-neighbor or no-neighbor algorithms.
►Stereology:
The Elite system includes commonly used procedures and parameters for
design-based stereological measures. An automated optical fractionator for
unbiased cell
counting is also available (Stereoinvestigator; Microbrightfield) and can be
used to calculate
the number of labeled cells in a given brain region, the length of blood vessels
segments
positive for a given marker or the volume of heterogeneous, non confluent regions.
►3D
analysis: Improvision Volocity is a set of four unique, totally integrated
products which
provide a full suite of tools for 3D image acquisition, volume visualization,
restoration,
publication, and object classification, tracking and charting.
The integration of 2D-PAGE with biological mass spectrometry is widely regarded as a core technology platform for proteomic analysis. 2D-PAGE gels offer unparalleled resolving power for complex samples limited only in the dynamic range and ability to resolve small and large proteins. Quantitative image based analysis of separated proteins has been a major development in biomedical investigations. Phoretix 2D Evolution is the most advanced platform for gel analysis including cross stain analysis functionality.
| Fee Schedule/Rates: |
| Service | MGH |
| Microscopy and Image Analysis | $50/hour |
| Getting Started: |
To access the core, please contact Dr. Waeber
at (617) 726-0768 or by email at
waeber@helix.mgh.harvard.edu.
| Departmental Web Link: |
http://www.massgeneral.org/ncs/neuro_core_MicroscopyandImageAnalysis.htm
