Phase contrast microscopy of living cells

[Robert Hartley]

In article <394653CB.FC77D3C6 at biocomp.unl.edu>, Chris LaRosa
<clarosa at biocomp.unl.edu> wrote:

> Robert Hartley wrote:
> > 
> > Hello all.
> > 
> > I have a colleague who wishes to analyse living cells through an opaque
> > material.
> > He is looking for something to enhace visualisation of the live cells
> > while vidoeing.
> > 
> 
> I have no idea if this will work for animal cells, however, I used to
> stain plant cells with neutral red to observe plasmolysis. Cyclosis
> continued for hours.  It greatly improves contrast without kill the
> cells quickly.  Of course nomarki optics is another option if one is
> available.   
>  
> Another new fangled way to visualize living cells that is quite the rage
> is to use gfp labelled cells and fluorescence optics.

Ahh come to think of it we have a few microscopes that might be able to do this.

An IRM M17, confocal, polarising, and half a dozen others.

I should really have got more details of him.

Thanks for the info ill pass it on.

cheers
Bob