Biology

Microscopy

Microscopy Suite

Location: Chaparral Hall, Room 5434; (818) 677-4575.

For information, training, and reservations, contact Dr. Ernest Kwok: 818-677-3383; ernest.kwok@csun.edu.

Click HERE to access calendar for using confocal microscope. Click HERE to access pre-training eLessons that you should master before scheduling hands-on training.

Confocal Microscope

Leica TCS SP5 II confocal microscope, good for taking images of living cells that have components marked with fluorophores. Lasers allow for optical sectioning and construction of 3D images. This microscope is equipped with 4 lasers providing a total of 7 excitation wavelengths: 405, 458, 476, 488, 514, 543, and 633 nm. Confocal fluorescence detection is by 3 independently adjustable PMTs. This microscope is also equipped with 4 epifluorescence filter sets (images cannot be collected at this time).

Filter set information
filter set/fluorophoreExcitationDichronicEmission
DAPI/Hoechst340-380 nm400>425
GFP/FITC450-490495500-550
GFP/FITC LP450-490510>515
Rhodamine/TRITC515-560580>590

For Transmitted Light microscopy, the microscope is capable of Brightfield and Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) using a dedicated PMT.

Confocal Microscope

Brightfield & Phase Contrast

Zeiss AxioObserver Z1 inverted epifluorescence microscope.Zeiss AxioObserver Z1 inverted epifluorescence microscope. Location Citrus Hall, Room 3219.

Four fluorescence filter sets
Filter Set/fluorophoreExcitationDichroicEmission
DAPI/Hoechst300-400 nm395420-470
GFP/FITC450-490495500-550
YFP488-513515520-550
Rhodamine/TRITC533-558570570-640

For Transmitted Light microscopy, the microscope is capable of Brightfield, Phase Contrast (10x objective) and Differential Interference Contrast (DIC; 40x and 63x objectives).

Fluorescent Microscopes

Left: fluorescent microscope with 2 filter sets.

Two fluorescence filter sets
Filter Set/fluorophoreExcitationDichroicEmission
GFP/FITC450-490 nm495500-550
Rhadamine/TRITC510-550570>560

Right: Nikon 80-i microscope equipped with a Jenoptik 14+ 12MP camera, phase contrast, brightfield, polarized light and DIC for transmitted light observation.
Fluorescence MicroscopeNikon DIC microscope

Ultramicrotome

Ultramicrotome makes very, very thin sections to be studied with transmission electron microscope.
Ultramicrotome

Fume Hood

Fume hood area of microscopy suite.
Fume Hood