Physiostation - Confocal combination to shed new light on ion channel regulation

Researchers within the Channels & Transporters Research Group at the University of Manchester will soon be able to simultaneously measure multiple signals associated with the contraction of vascular smooth muscle and intact blood vessels thanks to their acquisition of a Nikon FN1 Physiostation and an eC1 confocal microscope.

The Physiostation will serve as the basis for a rapid imaging system while the confocal microscope will allow the researchers to look deep into the tissues at high resolution and work with multiple probes. Images and events will be captured on a low light level camera.

According to Professor Alison Gurney, “Using the new combination, we will be able to acquire 2D images of rapid calcium events in cells and tissue and investigate the localisation of GFP markers and antibody staining at high resolution. The results will help us better understand pharmacological regulation of ion channels in blood vessels.”

Prof. Gurney, who is a recent arrival in Manchester and heads the Channels & Transporters Research Group, has used a similar system before and chose the Nikon solution because of, “the quality of its images, its ease of use and positive recommendations from my colleagues.”

Designed in collaboration with electro-physiologists and bioscience researchers from around the world, the FN1 Physiostation is a fixed nose focusing microscope specifically developed for electrophysiology and neuroscience imaging applications where flexibility and incredibly high optical performance are crucial.

With its three-channel simultaneous detection, the e-C1 confocal microscope supports almost any imaging technique, including simultaneous multi-channel fluorescence, DIC, time-lapse recording and spatial analysis.