Advanced Imaging Systems for Neuroscience: Slide Scanning, Upright High-Sensitive Confocal Microscopy, and High-Contents Screening Imaging System

초록

Neuroimaging is essential for elucidating the complex relationships between brain function and neurological disorders. The Brain Research Core Facilities (BRCF) at the Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI) introduce three advanced imaging devices: a slide scanner, an upright high-sensitive confocal microscope, and a high-contents screening imaging system. The slide scanner enables rapid, high-throughput analysis of single-layer brain tissue sections up to 64 µm in thickness, with four-wavelength targeting for detailed protein expression patterns. The upright high-sensitive confocal microscope provides deeper, three-dimensional visualization of thicker brain tissue samples, supporting multi-wavelength analyses for investigating disease mechanisms. The high-contents screening imaging system offers real-time imaging of living cells, with magnification ranges from 4x to 60x, enabling high-resolution observation of dynamic organelle changes. Its capability to simultaneously image up to 96 samples over extended periods supports efficient, large-scale cellular assays. Together, these devices allow comprehensive analysis of brain structure, protein distribution, and cellular signaling, facilitating the study of neuronal population dynamics and network structures. The integration of these technologies aims to advance methodologies for investigating 3D neural networks in neuropsychiatric and other brain disorders, ultimately contributing to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.