Living Cell Observation Techniques
Knowing the Different Living Cell Observation Techniques
Advancements in science and technology have created various living cell observation techniques for scientists and researchers to use. If you have the freedom to choose, take your time in evaluating all your options.
Observing Living Cells with an Inverted Microscope
Microscopes may either have upright or inverted frames. Conventional microscopes are upright and require you to look down on a sample. Inverted microscopes make you look up to a sample, and they are commonly used to observe specimens or samples of unusually large sizes and living cells placed inside containers or tissue cultures.
If you are interested in investing in an inverted microscope, consider the following features.
Differential Interference Contrasts - Look for a microscope that provides differential interference contrasts or DIC. This method allows users to view images with three-dimensional relief and shadowy effects. One popular type of DIC is named after its inventor Georges Nomarski.
Fluorescence Capabilities – Fluorescent bulbs are occasionally used in microscopes to yield brighter images. Look for a microscope that offers various fluorescence options as the type of fluorescent light needed will depend on what kind of living cell you wish to observe.
Optical Ports – Nowadays, it’s not enough to observe living cells by use of a microscope alone. Thus, look for a microscope offering you easy connectivity. Don’t buy any microscope that doesn’t have built-in ports. With connectivity ports available, your microscope can be linked to cameras, different kinds of filters and laser light sources as well as other devices. USB is the most common type of connectivity port available but of course, you could purchase a microscope with different connectivity ports if your devices don’t support USB connection.
Condenser – This is one of the least appreciated parts of microscopes. If you buy one with an L-shaped condenser and aperture stop, you’ll benefit from greater space for your camera or a confocal system.
There are other features to consider when shopping for an inverted microscope. The best way to ensure you go home with the ideal purchase is by speaking with a sales representative and let them know what you’re looking for.
Observing Living Cells with the Help of Staining Procedures
Not all dyes are applicable for staining living cells so make sure you’re using the appropriate dye like Nile Blue and Nile Red.
Simple Staining – Use a dropper and squeeze once or twice to place water on your glass slide. Place your living cells or specimen on the wet spot. Allow it to dry. Afterwards, subject the slide to a heat-fixing process. This process will kill off most microorganisms in your slide, which will allow you to observe the remaining living cells in your side more clearly. Lastly, pour your agents of choice to distinguish living cells from other parts of your sample or specimen.
Negative Staining – This technique is the opposite of simple staining. It is only applicable for living cells with negative charges like bacteria. Here, you’ll mix your living cells with acidic dyes or black stains. Start by applying the acidic dye on the glass slide together with your living cells. Again, leave it to dry. Since both the dye and living cell have negative charges, they will repel each other and allow you to see them in greater detail. Since you also didn’t subject the slide to heat fixing, no chemical reaction will take place and cells can therefore appear less distorted. They may also appear bigger than those that had undergone simple staining.
Acid Fast Staining – Certain living cells are made of wax-like substances, and these make them hard to stain by ordinary techniques. As such, heat must be applied not only to the slides but to the specimen itself. Even the use of an alcohol solution with five percent acid will not be enough to make living cells more visible. Instead, you’ll have to use ZiehlNeelsen’s Carbolfuchsin. This agent will cause your specimen to turn bright red. Afterwards, the slide and its contents should be rinsed with an acid alcohol decolorizer.
The process doesn’t ender. Next, apply a counter stain like methylene blue to the now decolorized living cell. Afterwards, rinse off your slide then leave it to dry.
These are just some of the techniques used for observing living cells. For more advanced living cell observation techniques, consider using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) or a transmission electron microscope (TEM) – both of which use electron beams instead of ordinary light to illuminate the specimen. And more recently, Nanowerk LLC had successfully used Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (SNOM) for living cell observations.
