Visualizing the α and ß Cells of the Islets of Langerhans
Capturing high-resolution images
It is possible to visualize the distribution of α cells, which secrete glucagon (which acts to raise the blood sugar level), and β cells, which secrete insulin (which acts to lower the blood sugar level), in the pancreas—one of the many internal organs within animals—by taking an overall view of the islets of Langerhans.*1 (Conventionally, the entire section could not be fully displayed in the field of view, and it could only be observed or captured as an image in pieces. This problem led to poor objectivity regarding the captured image and difficulty in eliminating arbitrariness.*2)
Objective lens: CFI60 CFI Plan Apo λ 4x
Image stitching: 5 images × 3 images
- Using the All-in-One Fluorescence Microscope BZ-X800
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- When a slice of the target is too large to fall within a single field of view, images are captured while moving the stage and a high-resolution image can be created by stitching these images.
- Even for tilted specimens or specimens that have height differences, it is possible to create an image in which the entire specimen is in focus. This is accomplished by capturing multiple images in the Z direction and stitching together only the parts that are in focus.
- The Haze Reduction function, which eliminates fluorescence blurring caused by scattered light, can be used to capture clear images with high contrast.
*1 Islets of Langerhans:
The islets of Langerhans refer to cell clusters in the pancreas consisting of five types of cells: α cells, β cells, δ cells, PP cells, and ε cells. The pancreas is made of exocrine glands, which secrete amylase and other digestive enzymes into the duodenum, and the islets of Langerhans, but the exocrine glands make up 90% or more of the pancreas, and clusters of endocrine cells float amid the exocrine glands like islands. These clusters are named the “islets of Langerhans” after their discoverer, Paul Langerhans.
*2 Eliminating arbitrariness:
In scholarly papers there is great importance placed on objectivity and reproducibility. Images captured with microscopes greatly affect these two concepts. When partial images are captured of sections, it is sometimes the case that the individual capturing the image does so in an arbitrary manner to capture a favorable location. However, the BZ-X800 captures seamless, high-resolution images of the entire specimen, thereby eliminating this arbitrariness attributable to the individual capturing the image and, consequently, making it possible to achieve evaluations with high objectivity.
- Here are some examples of using the All-in-One Fluorescence Microscope BZ-X800 in front-line research.
- [Regenerative Medicine] BZ Series Provides Essential Imaging for Neural Stem Cell and Spinal Observation
- [Gene Therapy] Improving Research for the Development of Gene Therapy Drugs
- [Heart Disease Treatment] Developing Cell Sheets for Myocardial Regenerative Treatments
- [Cancer Treatment] Automated Fluorescence Microscope Transforms Process for Induced Cancer Stem Cell Research
- [Immune System] BZ Series Contributes to Understanding the Pathological Model of Asthma
- [Biomaterials] Promoting Efficiency in Research With Compact, User-friendly Microscopes