Electron Microscopy
The Bioimaging Centre electron microscopy facility consists of a JEOL transmission electron microscope and a Zeiss scanning electron microscope as well as state-of-the-art sample preparation equipment in form of a high pressure freezer and freeze substitution unit. Our senior experimental officer is supported by a senior research technician for electron microscopy to facilitate the diverse requirements for sample fixation, embedding and sectioning.
We encourage our users to get in touch to discuss the various services we can provide in terms of morphological analysis and quantification of ultrastructure.
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
Leica EM UC7 Ultramicrotome
We use the Leica EM UC7 ultramicrotome to obtain ultrathin sections for electron microscopy. Biological material which is embedded in a resin can be trimmed into shape and then cut into semi- or ultrathin sections for TEM or SEM examination. Section thickness can be adjusted between 20 nm and 2 um.
RMC LN Ultra Cryosectioning System
We use a high stability cryosectioning system to obtain the sections used in the Tokuyasu technique for immunogold labelling. The cryosystem can be attached to our RMC ultracut and uses liquid nitrogen to keep the cryochamber at low temperature (typically between -80 and -120 degrees).
Specifications
- Insulated and externally heated cryosectioning chamber
- Control unit with digital display of knife and specimen temperatures
- 12 l table top LN2 dewar
- PC for operating the room temperature and low temperature ultrasectioning modes
- Diatome anti-static ionizer for controlling static during sectioning
RMC POWERTOME PC Ultracut
For the preparation of thin sections for electron microscopy we use the RMC ultracut to slice the samples once embedded in plastic resins. The new ultracut is provided with a cutting engine with exceptional levels of precision tolerance. This design reduces “play” between the parts of the engine to a minimum, virtually eliminating section chatter and susceptibility to external vibration. See download the User Guide for PowerTome Ultramicrotomes (.pdf) for further technical information.
Knife maker
The GKM-2 is specifically designed to incorporate the “balanced break” method to produce optimum knife edges. A digital readout as well as micrometre positioners make it easy to get controlled consistent slow breaks to obtain glass knives suitable for resin as well as cryo ultrasectioning.
