Three-Dimensional Analysis Of Molecular Distribution In Single Cells Using The Digital Imaging Microscope
Fredric S. Fay, Walter A. Carrington, Larry M. Lifshitz, Kevin E. Fogarty · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1989
The development and operation of the digital imaging microscope, a system capable of analyzing the 3D molecular distribution in singe cells is described. It is a system consisting of hardware and software that: 1. obtains 2D or 3D microscope images of the faint signals from fluorescent molecules introduced into single cells; 2. reverses the distortion in such images introduced by the optics; 3. automatically or semi-automatically extracts features of interest from such images, and; 4. displays 2D, 3D images and even higher order information for interactive analysis. The strategies used to accomplish these tasks are discussed and their application to the analysis of the molecular events underlying white blood cell chemotaxis is illustrated.