The Department of Cell Biology maintains state-of the art microscopy core facilities to support a wide range biological imaging needs.

BMSB Imaging Core. The main imaging core is located in newly renovated space on the first floor of the Basic Medical Sciences building (Suite 124) dedicated to biological imaging needs. Instrumentation includes:

  • Super-resolution Nikon N-SIM E/STORM microscope. The microscope is built on a Nikon Ti2 inverted fluorescence microscope equipped for Differential Interference Contrast and fluorescence imaging in the blue, green, red, and far red channels at magnifications of 4X, 10X, 20X, and 100X. Super-resolution imaging modalities include TIRF (Total Internal Reflectance Fluorescence), Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM), and Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM). The system is equipped with a stage top incubator for live cell imaging. The system uses Nikon Elements software to control image acquisition and analysis.
  • Super-resolution Nikon CSU-W1/SoRa spinning disk confocal microscope. The microscope is built on a Nikon Ti2 inverted fluorescence microscope equipped for Differential Interference Contrast and fluorescence imaging in the blue, green, red, and far red channels at magnifications of 4X, 10X, 20X, 40X, 60X, and 100X.  The SoRa attachment enables superresolution imaging and the spinning disk design permits confocal imaging through specimens up to 200-300 micrometers thick. The system is equipped with a stage top incubator for live cell imaging, and a fast galvo scanner for dynamic imaging methods including, FRAP, photoconversion, and photostimulation. 
  • Nikon Ti2 Live-Cell Imaging Microscope. The microscope is built on a Nikon Ti2 inverted fluorescence microscope equipped for Differential Interference Contrast and fluorescence imaging in the blue, green, red, and far red channels at magnifications of 4X-100X. The system is designed for imaging of multiple regions of interest within the sample and for image stitching of large fields. The system is equipped with a stage-top incubator that accepts standard lab culture ware for long-term experiments. The system is configured with two illumination decks to support different types of imaging needs. For standard live cell imaging needs, the system is equipped with an LED illumination system. For short-term experiments requiring dynamic imaging of activity-dependent fluorescent dyes (such as Fura-2, Fluo4) or genetically-encoded biosensors (such as GCaMP or synaptopHluorin), a high intensity Xenon light source is available. The system uses Nikon Elements software to control image acquisition and analysis.
  • Leica M205-MFC THUNDER microscope for 3D and 2D imaging of large specimens at magnifications from 1X-40X. Supports imaging in blue, green, near red and far red fluorescence channels or white light. The system is designed for imaging of multiple regions of interest within the sample and for image stitching of large fields in 2D and 3D. Leica LasX software is used for image acquisition and for THUNDER computational clearing of out-of-focus light in fluorescently labeled specimens.
  • Epi-fluorescence microscopes. Nikon TsR and T2000 Eclipse microscopes capable of phase contrast and fluorescence imaging in the blue, green, red and far red channels at 4X-60X are available.
  • Brightfield microscopes. Upright and inverted microscopes for observation of histologically stained samples at 4X-40X.
  • Stereomicroscope. A stereomicroscope is available for observation of large specimens at low magnifications.

BRC Imaging Core

  • Olympus Fluoview 1000 Laser scanning confocal microscope. This microscope is equipped for confocal imaging at 4X-100X in the blue, green, near red, and far red fluorescence channels. Image acquisition is controlled by Olympus Fluoview software.
  • Olympus Fluoview 1000 Multi-photon microscope.

PowerPoint Introduction to the Imaging Core

Cell Biology Imaging Core Fee Schedule

Cell Biology Shared Equipment Description for Grants

Image Processing

Quantitating the cell: turning images into numbers with ImageJ

Image Processing with ImageJ (copy link to Cell biology webserver, login required)

 

Acknowledging the Imaging Laboratory

All users are expected to cite the the Cell Biology Imaging Core and the specific grants that support the various microscopes in the Core in the Acknowledgements sections of all publications that use the Core.This is very important to continued support of the Core. The proper Acknowledgements for each piece of major Equipment are listed below.

Leica M205-MFC THUNDER large specimen imaging system.

The Leica M205-MFC THUNDER large specimen imaging system is supported by a Large Equipment Grant from the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research (OCASCR) and the OUHSC Department of Cell Biology.

Nikon N-SIM-E/STORM super-resolution microscope.

The Nikon N-SIM-E/STORM super-resolution microscope is supported by a Large Equipment Grant from the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research (OCASCR) and the OUHSC Department of Cell Biology.

Nikon CSU-W1/SoRA super-resolution spinning disk confocal microscope.

The Nikon CSU-W1/SoRA super-resolution spinning disk confocal microscope is supported by an Equipment Grant from the Presbyterian Health Foundation (PHF) and the OUHSC Department of Cell Biology.

Nikon Ti2 live cell imaging microscope.

The Nikon Ti2 live cell imaging microscope is supported by an Equipment Grant from the Presbyterian Health Foundation (PHF) and the OUHSC Department of Cell Biology.

 Nikon and Olympus compound epifluorescence microscopes.

The Nikon and Olympus compound epifluorescence microscopes are supported by the OUHSC Department of Cell Biology.

Olympus FluoView 1000 laser scanning confocal microscope.

The Olympus FluoView 1000 laser scanning confocal microscope is supported by the OUHSC Department of Cell Biology.

Olympus Fluoview 1000 multiphoton microscope.

 The Olympus Fluoview 1000 multiphoton microscope is supported by the OUHSC Department of Cell Biology and by 1P20GM125528 “Cellular and Molecular GeroScience CoBRE” from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

Cell Bio Imaging Core- Free Desktop Image Viewer Software Information.

Desktop viewers for viewing data generated using the OUHSC Cell Biology Imaging Core microscopes.
These desktop viewers are provided free-of-charge directly from the manufacturers of our Image Core microscopes. These programs include the features of our Leica and Nikon software packages needed to view and work with images generated using our Leica and Nikon microscopes, but do not include the portions of the programs needed to operate the microscopes themselves. These programs are needed by our Imaging users. Nikon NIS-Elements, Leica LAS X, and Olympus Fluoview software packages are already approved for use on campus. These packages can be found in Z:\CB Share\Cell Bio Imaging Core- Desktop Image Viewer Software Information. (login required)


Nikon NIS-Elements Desktop viewer
This viewer program will allow the user to view files generated on our Nikon Microscopes. This is a free desktop viewer program for download directly from Nikon. Available for download for either PC or Mac: https://www.microscope.healthcare.nikon.com/products/software/nis-elements/viewer.
Limited functionality, but allows user to view Nikon .nd2 files on their desktop computer. The PC version is more capable than the Mac version. An NIS-Elements User Guidefor the Desktop viewer program is avaliable on the same page. The user guide provides more information regarding the tools in the Viewer program.
Leica LAS X software.
This viewer program will allow the user to view files generated on our Leica THUNDER large imaging Microscope. Presumably it also would work for Leica confocal microscopy systems. This is a free desktop viewer program from Leica, available for download directly from Leica.
https://www.leica-microsystems.com/products/microscope-software/p/leica-las-x-ls/downloads/
Olympus Fluoview FV10-ASW Viewer software.
This viewer program will allow the user to view files generated on our Olympus FV1000 confocal and multi-photon microscopes. Crashy.
https://www.olympus-lifescience.com/en/support/downloads/fv10i_vw_license/