Laser scanning confocal microscopy

• Resolution


  The minimum distance between two objects while they can still be seen as two separate objects
• For a conventional light microscope the resolution is around 200 nanometers
• The wavelength of visible light is simply too large to allow us to resolve objects closer than 200 nanometers
• Conventional light microscopy


  Light passes through the sample, making the image blurred and the resolution even worse than it could be
• Laser scanning confocal microscopy


  A laser is used to scan the object, allowing us to view a very precise layer of the object
• Laser scanning confocal microscopy


  • Produces higher resolution images than conventional light microscopy
  • Allows production of three-dimensional images of cells
  • Allows visualization of specific proteins and structures within cells and watching them move
• Image of cells in the pancreas using laser scanning confocal microscopy


  • Blue color shows nuclei of cells
  • Green color shows insulin producing cells
  • Red color shows cells producing glucagon