FAQ:

What are we? The Digital Microscopy Laboratory (DML) is a core facility on the UAMS campus that operates and maintains a series of computer controlled light microscopes (Zeiss AxioVert 100, AxioImager and LSM 510 confocal microscopes) and an electron microscope (FEI F20).  The Axiovert 100 and LSM 510, inverted microscope stands, are configured to support the Live-Cell incubation system for live cell imaging under controlled CO₂ and O₂ conditions.  The AxioImager supports the imaging of slides under DIC or fluorescence illumination.  For electron microscopy, samples may be prepared either by chemical fixer, high-pressure freezing/freeze substitution or by automated plunge freezing.  An ultramicrotome is available for either thin or thick sectioning or cryosectioning.  The FEI F20 electron microscope supports low dose imaging of single protein complexes, thin section imaging, the imaging of frozen, hydrated samples and electron tomography of thick sections.

What do we do? We specialize in digital imaging of a wide array of samples.  For live-cell imaging, a CO₂ incubator and tissue culture hood are available within the Core.  The three light microscopes span the range from a stand designed exclusively for imaging slides to two more flexible inverted microscope stands. For electron microscopy, sample preparation is key.  The high-pressure freezing/freeze substitution, plunge freezing, and cryo-sectioning capabilities and their association with an electron microscope configured for biological microscopy and cryo is unique within Arkansas.  The facility provides the State of Arkansas with much-needed infrastructure for competitive research in the biological sciences.

What are our technical capabilities? Imaging of both fixed and living cells is routinely supported.  The instrumentation provides a wide range of resolution capabilities from 300 nm to less than 1 nm.  Perfusion techniques with live cells are supported.  We can generate optical sections, multicolor 3 dimensional reconstructions and have ratio imaging, FRET and FRAP capabilities. A 64-bit off-microscope Apple Macintosh workstation handles large files, >4 Gigabytes, and has installed public domain software for image processing, tomography and single molecule reconstructions.  In addition, the installed software includes commercial deconvolution, co-localization, and image rendering packages.  The public domain software used in the DML will run on any 64-bit Windows computer.

What do we have and where are we located? All microscopes and sample preparation equipment are housed within the DML (Rm 136-2, BioMedical II) as well as the general-purpose 64-bit workstation computer.  There is a fume hood for handling osmium and electron microscopy fixative.  The DML does not have balances or a pH meter.  Specialized solutions for your experiments need to be prepared in your own individual laboratories.  This is an equipment and expertise resource, not an functional research laboratory.

What are our limitations? The DML supports many research microscopy needs.  However, techniques such as H&E and paraffin embedding and sectioning are not supported.  These services are available from the Department of Pathology Core.  We presently do not support super-resolution light microscopy, two photo fluorescence microscopy for thick samples or general polarized light microscopy.  The use of the AxioVert 100 inverted microscope for time-lapse experiments may occasionally result in people wishing to image transfections for GFP/RFP expression having to wait a few hours or a day before being able to view and photograph their sample.  Do check ahead.

What's the catch? We are a research facility and support ourselves largely from user fees.  Our efforts concentrate on projects with grant funding and/or departmental/college support.  

What do I need to make productive use of the facility? Most importantly, you need to have a defined experimental question appropriate for our instrumentation.  All use is on a fee-for-service basis.  We'll talk to you about the suitability of our instrumentation to your problem and make recommendations if you aren't sure.  Contact Jeff Kamykowski for a summary of fee schedules (JAKamykowski@uams.edu).

How was the major equipment funded? The DML underwent a major transformation between 1997-2011 with the funding of equipment grants by the NIH for a Zeiss LSM 510 laser scanning confocal microscope and by the NSF for the FEI F20 electron microscope and Leica sample preparation equipment.  UAMS departments and the College of Medicine purchased supporting equipment.  The DML is housed in Room 136-2, BioMedical II, UAMS in recently constructed space paid in part from gifts to the Dean of Medicine’s Leading Donor Fund. 

How long does using a microscope take? This depends on the nature of the biological problem, your goals and past experience.  People can be up and going for simple light microscopy within 1-2 hours. Feeling fully comfortable with the light microscopy equipment will require additional time to reinforce and refine your skills.  Our experience with electron microscopy is that for many purposes learning sample preparation skills is typically more time consuming than learning the operation of the electron microscope itself.  Fee for service support for electron microscopy is available on consultation.