Laser microdissection enables immunofluorescent microscopic evaluation and subsequent isolation or manipulation of single cells or homogeneous cell clusters in heterogeneous tissues. This isolation occurs without direct contact minimizing risk of contamination. The collected samples can be used for downstream DNA and RNA sequencing or protein analysis. Therefore it enables researchers to combine information on the spatial localization of cells with the downstream analysis of the expression profile of RNA, DNA or proteins. Moreover, the device allows ablation experiments on life cells followed by life cell imaging.

Specifications:

• Inverted Axiovert 200 Zeiss microscope
• Objectives:
  • 10X air, Fluor, 0.5NA
  • 20X air, LD Plan-Neofluar 0.4 NA
  • 40X air, LD Plan-Neofluar 0.6 NA
  • 63X air, LD Plan-Neofluar 0.75 NA
  • 63X oil, plan Apochromat, 1.4 NA
  • 100X oil, EC Plan-Neofluar, 1.3 NA IRIS
• Colour channels for epifluorescence visualisation (HXP120)
  • Rhodamine
  • GFP
  • CFP
  • DAPI
  • B/G/HeRed
• Two detectors: Axiocam 506 mono and Axiocam 503 color
• Pulsed UVa-laser for sample collection
• PALM RoboSoftware
• ApoTome for optical sectioning (not combined with LCM operation)
• CapMover
• Inserts  for 200 µl and 500 µl tubes to load load either a single cap or two caps