Laser-scanning microscopy as applied to mouse early embryos: Cytometry and analysis of cell morphology

This paper updates our knowledge on quantitative laser scanning microscopy and summarizes the capabilities of this method as applied to cytometry and analysis of cell structure of the mouse early embryo and the oocyte. This method requires a stack of optical sections obtained as Z-series with subsequent 3D reconstruction. This approach was used for visualization of the 3D cell model, measurement of the cell volume and surface area, as well as a study of the cell interior via optical sections. To maintain the dimensional characteristics of embryos or oocytes the method of sample preparation involved the following consequent steps: rapid cryofixation, low-temperature dehydration, infiltration by optically transparent mounting media, and laser-scanning microscopy. This strategy enables volume measurement, even in the case of a single cell within the multicellular system of the mouse early embryo.     

Destruction of a Bacterial Biofilm with an Electrochemically Activated Solution

Biophysics - The action of electrochemically activated water on the fine structure of biofilms formed by the plankton forms of lactic acid bacteria and E. coli was investigated. Bacterial biofilms...     

Cyto B dependent and ouabain insensitive regulatory volume decrease in bicellular mouse embryo

Mouse single-cell embryos exhibit robust Regulatory Volume Decrease (RVD). In what manner the very early mammalian embryo following zygote stage is appreciably altered by the anisotonic extracellular solution is, as yet, totally unclear. Little attention was paid to this direction since there was no way to determine the blastomere volume. This work has served to quantitatively investigate the osmotic response of bicellular mouse embryos employing Laser Scanning Microtomography (LSM) followed with three-dimensional reconstruction (3 DR). We have shown that bicellular mouse embryos in hypotonic Dulbecco's experience RVD. Embryonic cells subjected to hyposmolar exhibit rapid osmotic swelling followed by gradual shrinking back toward their original volume. The van't Hoff law defines swelling phase with the effective hydraulic conductivity of 0.3 micron x min(-1) x atm(-1). Water release during RVD in bicellular mouse embryos is abolished by Cytochalasin B (Cyto B) and the volume recovery is insensitive to ouabain treatment.     

The Use of ToF-SIMS for Analysis of Bioorganic Samples

The technique for the preparation of biological tissue sections developed for Electron Probe Microanalysis has been adapted for ToF-SIMS analysis of mouse GV stage oocytes. GV-oocyte sample preparation involves the following steps: plunge freezing, freeze drying, impregnation in an embedding medium, and section cutting. Molecule-specific images of the distribution of molecules in a single oocyte have been obtained with the described technique and ToF-SIMS analysis. The ToF-SIMS analysis data show that the efficient lateral image resolution is approximately 1 μm. Hence, ToF-SIMS enables us to study the distribution of chemical substances in relation to the morphological data obtained by scanning electron microscopy or conventional light microscopy.     

Biological Effects Induced by 68Ga-Conjugated Peptides in Human and Rodent Tumor Cell Lines

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Positron emission tomography (PET) with 68Ga-labeled peptides is a promising option in the imaging of tumors expressing peptide-binding...     

A Nanocapsule Based on Natural Mineral Clinoptilolite Surrounded by a Lecithin Envelope

Biophysics - A technology for obtaining nanoparticles of natural clinoptilolite, a mineral from the zeolite family, under laboratory conditions has been developed. The size of zeolite particles was...