Confocal microscope system, which has higher resolution than an ordinary microscope, has spectrometric capability with no special optical elements. It is found by calculation that the confocal microscope system with SFS1 lens which has 20.9 aberration number has 0.6 nm spectral resolution. This report describes about some applications of the system.

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In cryobiology, the freezing of tissues needs further detailed clarification. This study investigated microscopically the freezing behavior and subsequent post-thaw histological change in a complex tissue, namely, aortic media, which consisted mainly of intricately intertwined elastic fibers, collagen fibers, and smooth muscle cells. The freezing behavior was observed using two methods: optical microscopy of a section of a frozen sample and field emission scanning electron microscopy of a frozen sample. Comparison of the relation between the freezing behavior and the post-thaw histological changes observed in this study for aortic media and that previously reported for muscle tissues indicates that the presumption of freezing behavior based on the observed histological changes depends on the type of tissue.

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蛍光染色法は，組織や細胞構造の形態学的解析にとどまらず，細胞小器官や生体分子の動態解析も可能にし，細胞機能を明らかにする上で重要な役割を果たしている．さらに，共焦点（以下，共焦点顕微鏡）の登場により，従来の蛍光画像に精細さや立体的な視野が付与された．近年，生物系分野の学術誌の表紙にも蛍光画像図で飾られたものが多く見受けられ，その鮮明な図に思わず目を留めたことのある人も少なくないであろう．このような蛍光画像図の大半は，共焦点顕微鏡によって得られたものである．いまや共焦点顕微鏡は，細胞レベルの研究分野では欠かすことのできない装置のひとつになりつつある．本稿では，共焦点顕微鏡の原理およびその代表的な用途について紹介する．

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The blood velocity pattern near the cranial wall at the renal ostia, where atherosclerotic lesions are prone to develop, are characterized by 1) slow time-averaged shear rate, 2) separation of the flow, and 3) a time-varying oscillation of the flow (Arterioscler Thromb 1992; 12: 626-632). To elucidate the relation between the velocity pattern and localization of development of atherosclerosis, we analyzed the fine structure and function of the vascular wall by using laser scanning confocal microscope. In a Wistar rat the renal artery was perfusion fixed at a pressure of 75 mmHg. F-actin and DNA in nuclei were stained with rhodamine phalloidin and bisBenzimide, respectively. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) scavenger transport was investigated by injection of DiI-Ac-LDL before sacrificed. At the cranial wall, where atherosclerotic lesions as prone to develop, the shapes of endothelial cells and nuclei were relatively round, comparing to the caudal wall or the distal portion of renal artery, where atherosclerotic lesions hardly develop. The orientation of nuclei and stress fibers at the cranial wall was relatively random. With ten minutes incubation, Ac-LDL were observed in the endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell with higher density in the former. The density of Ac-LDL in vascular media at the cranial wall was much higher than that the caudal wall. In conclusion, the velocity pattern localizes the development of atherosclerosis via the change in the endothelial cell structure and Ac-LDL transport within the vascular wall.

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The mechanical properties and fracture mechanism of a clean Ti-6Al-4V alloy made of electron beam remelting method were examined at 77K and 300K as well as a dirty Ti-6Al-4V alloy with much addition of nitrogen was tested for comparison. The fracture toughness of clean alloy is much larger than that of dirty alloy especially at 300K. Using laser scanning microscope, the morphological examination on the fractured surface was made. The fractured surface of clean alloy was almost occupied with ductile equiaxial and elongated dimples at 300K. Besides, the intergranular crack of primary α was often found at 77K. On the other hand, the dirty alloy had a lot of cleavage facets at 300K and a lot of cleavage and groove facets at 77K.

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The principle and the characteristics of multiphoton exciting microscopy have been described . The spatial resolution and the practical setup of the microscopy have been shown. Recent progress on viewing dynamics in cells such as the propagation of Ca²⁺ wave is also shown with experimental results. The future of multiphoton microscopy and its applications are investigated.

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