Confocal Microscope Zeiss LSM-710

Confocal Microscope Zeiss LSM-710 with Airyscan (CCRL02)

Status: Functioning 

Located in room 1116A of the Biological Sciences Building of the Statesboro Campus.

Below the Specifications/Capabilities is the calendar to schedule appointments to the scope.  If a time slot is missing then someone has already booked that time so pick another slot.  Please make sure to always sign up on the schedule appointment calendar Before coming to use the confocal. 

• You must be logged into a @georgiasouthern.edu or Gmail account to reserve instrument time.  

• Microscopes point of contact: Andrew Diamanduros - adiamanduros@georgiasouthern.edu

Specifications:

The Zeiss LSM-710 confocal laser scanning microscope is mounted on a inverted Axio Observer Z1 with an Airyscan upgrade.  It is a powerful confocal microscope system capable of imaging a wide variety of samples, both fixed and live, and analyze multi-fluorescent samples.  The LSM-710 is used with fluorescence, bright field transmission and differential interference contrast DIC.  The main principle of a confocal microscope, detector pinhole is confocal with the illuminated spot on the sample and rejects light reflected from objects that are not in the focal plane to eliminate out-of-focus light by employing a pinhole aperture results in excellent optical sections with high contrast and enables the high-resolution reconstruction of three-dimensional structures.  Here's a summary of its capabilities and the kinds of samples you can use: 

Samples:

• Fixed and live cells: The inverted Axio Observer Z1 stand is ideal for imaging fluorescent /non- fluorescent cells and tissue cultures, providing versatility for various applications. 

• Tissue sections: The LSM-710 can be used for morphological analysis of structures in both cell cultures and tissue sections.

• Small organisms: It can be used to image minute structures like yeast or DNA.

• Plant samples: Examples include imaging fluorescent protein expression in plant roots and stems.

• Fluorescently labeled specimens: This includes samples stained with fluorescent protein expression, immunohistochemical labels, or fluorescent indicators such as Dapi, CFP, GFP, Cy3, Alexa 594, Alexa 633, Alexa 650/680 and many others. To see a full set of Zeiss Filter Sets and fluorescent indicators that can be used at file, Zeiss Filter Sets data GSU confocal.

Capabilities:

• Confocal and super-resolution imaging: The LSM-710 provides standard confocal imaging with excellent resolution and optical sectioning capabilities. The addition of Airyscan enhances resolution and signal-to-noise ratio, enabling super-resolution imaging, according to NIH. Airyscan can improve resolution and can be multi fold compared to conventional confocal microscopy.

• Magnification: Lens Dry: 10x, 20x, 40x, and Lens Oil: 40x oil, 63x oil, 100x oil

• Laser & Wavelength nm: 

  1. HeNe 543 594 633, 

  2. Argon 458 488 514, 

  3. Solid state Diode 405

• Coverslip: The LSM-710 is designed to be used with #1.5 (0.17 mm) thick glass coverslips and coverglass. Inverted microscope with lens under the stage and coverslip facing down to lens when on the scope.

• Live-cell imaging: Its environmental control features and reduced phototoxicity make it suitable for observing dynamic processes in living samples over extended periods. It allows for time-lapse analysis to track cellular events.

• Multi-channel and spectral imaging: The system can acquire images with multiple fluorescent labels simultaneously. Its spectral detector allows for precise spectral unmixing to separate signals from multiple fluorophores or remove autofluorescence.

• 3D reconstruction: Stacks of thin optical sections at various focal planes that can be acquired and reconstructed into 3D visualizations.

• High-speed imaging: Airyscan allows for faster image acquisition, especially in the FAST mode, which can be useful for capturing rapid cellular dynamics.

• For use in materials science, Zeiss LSM-710 is used to examine surface topography, analyze material composition, and investigate the microstructure of materials with high resolution.

• Additional features: The system may include features like tile scanning for large-area imaging, motorized stages, and options for specialized techniques like multiphoton excitation microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. 

In essence, the Zeiss LSM-710 with Airyscan provides a versatile platform for detailed imaging and analysis of a wide range of biological samples, particularly in cell and molecular biology research.