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Photo by ANDREA MABRY | University Relations

Alexa Mattheyses, Ph.D. (right), director of the UAB High-Resolution Imaging Facility, and Robert Grabski, Ph.D., research associate in the High-Resolution Imaging Facility. They are pictured with the Zeiss Lightsheet 7 light sheet microscope, an advanced imaging device capable of fluorescent imaging of living cells and tissues.

What it does: A light sheet fluorescent microscope, or LSFM, allows researchers to visualize the relationships between cells and proteins in intact tissues, organs and organisms at high volume and at a range of sizes and resolutions. Because of its image acquisition speed, the Zeiss Lightsheet 7 can perform data collection from large samples rapidly and efficiently, “allowing us to image far larger samples than we are currently capable of, including whole organisms and intact cleared tissues,” Mattheyses wrote in her grant abstract. Light sheet fluorescent microscopy also “substantially reduces photobleaching and photodamage,” she added. Samples do not need to be mounted on a slide or coverslip, “allowing more physiological imaging of model organisms and intact tissues,” Mattheyses said. “Finally, samples can be rotated relative to the imaging plane, allowing ideal orientation and collection of multiple views.”

We are very excited to announce that our Zeiss Lightsheet7 microscope, purchased with support of a NIH S10 grant, is fully operational! This microscope brings unique imaging capabilities previously unavailable to UAB research community, The Zeiss Lightsheet 7 Fluorescent Microscope (LSFM) is ideal for fast and gentle imaging of whole living model organisms (zebrafish, organoids, tadpole embryo, various tissues) as they develop over extended periods of time and imaging of large optically cleared specimens with subcellular resolution. Dedicated optics, sample chambers and holders allow adaption to the refractive index of your chosen clearing method.