2P2-J13 A development of a 3D cell tracking and fluorescence microscope system and its application to a cell motility research

Abstract

Molecular biologists use a fluorescent microscope to observe intracellular ions (molecules) and study intracellular mechanisms realizing cellular functions. However, they often defocus or miss a freely moving cell from a scope of the fluorescent microscope and then discontinue observation. To overcome this problem, we developed a new microscope system, which enables us to observe intracellular ions and molecules with emission light, focus and track a cell with a transmission light at the same time. We demonstrated that it is possible to continuously observe intracellular Ca^<2+> ions of a freely moving paramecium. It is helpful to research a cell motility of a paramecium.