Abstract
An optical system suitable for ultraviolet (UV) laser-scanning
confocal microscopy was designed and
custom-made. The optical system consisted of a
hybrid objective of reflective and refractive elements
(achromatic for 200—500 nm), a relay lens
(200—500 nm) and a conventional confocal laser-scanning
head. The system yielded lateral and axial
resolutions of 0.6 μm and 3.5 μm, respectively,
which were measured at a half decay length of the
fluorescence of a bead (0.5 μm), and demonstrated
the sliced image of cultured bullfrog sympathetic
ganglion cells loaded with a Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent
dye, lndo-1.