Cutting-Edge Imaging Approaches in Neuroscience: Slide Scanner and High-Content Screening Imaging System

초록

Neuroimaging plays a vital role in understanding brain function and its intricate relationship with various neurological disorders. Here, we introduce two advanced imaging devices: the slide scanner and the high-content screening imaging system with the Brain Research Core Facilities (BRCF) at the Korea Brain Research Institute. These advanced instruments provide valuable insights into brain structure, protein expression patterns, and signaling pathways, enabling comprehensive analyses of neuronal populations and network dynamics. The slide scanner provides a comprehensive view of brain structure by analyzing single-layer brain tissue sections up to 64um thickness. Equipped with four wavelength targets, it allows researchers to investigate protein expression patterns and gain a deeper understanding of disease-related alterations. Leveraging its multi-wavelength analysis capabilities, this device serves as a critical tool for unraveling the complex mechanisms underlying brain disorders. Concurrently, the high-content screening imaging system facilitates real-time analysis of signaling pathways and mechanisms within living cells. With its variable magnification options ranging from 4X to 60X, it allows researchers to capture high-resolution images and monitor dynamic changes in cellular organelles. Moreover, its capacity to simultaneously image up to 96 samples over extended periods of time makes it an efficient tool for screening assays of multiple cellular components. Through further descriptive analyses, we strive to optimize methodologies and elucidate the complex 3D neural networks associated with brain disorders, including neuropsychiatric dysfunction. Our effort aims to shed light on the underlying mechanisms of these disorders and contribute to the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.