Abstract
This paper presents a pilot study observing the fluorescence from the regions of contact between the cultured cells and the substrate. The technique utilizes the evanescent wave of a totally reflecting laser beam to excite only those fluorescent molecules within one light wavelength or less of the substrate surface. TIRF examination of cells apears to have promising applications, including visualization of the membrane underlying cytoplasmic structures at cell-substrate contacts, and mapping of fluorescent molrcules.
