Aug 3, 2018 | Addition of light-sheet microscopy brings exciting new capabilities to the ALMS

Aug 3, 2018

W e are pleased to announce the addition of a dual light-sheet/confocal microscope (Leica TCS SP8 DLS) in the Advanced Light Microscopy/ Spectroscopy (ALMS) Technology Center and Leica Center of Excellence at CNSI.

Light-sheet microscopy, also known as single plane illumination microscopy or SPIM, allows ultra-fast imaging with gentle illumination of the specimen, reducing overall photo-damage due to photo-toxicity and bleaching. As this geometry increases cell viability, this microscope is ideally suited to observe fast processes in live developing organisms. Additionally, it can also be used to image large volumes, up to millimeters of clarified tissues such as brain, heart, and spinal cord samples.

The microscope doubles as a fully functional confocal microscope, which enables photo-conversion or wounding experiments to be carried out in conjunction with light-sheet microscopy for subsequent gentle long-term observations.

The ALMS at CNSI is excited to provide the first open-access, easy-to-use light-sheet microscope on campus. With its straightforward and intuitive workflow, the Leica TCS SP8 DLS makes this groundbreaking technology accessible to seasoned and beginner microscopists alike.

Contact Information

For consultation and proof-of-concept testing, please contact Dr. Laurent Bentolila, ALMS Director at lbento@chem.ucla.edu

For registration and training, please contact ALMS at alms@cnsi.ucla.edu.

For more information on the ALMS Technology Center, visit the ALMS website.