Zeiss Lightsheet Z.1 Operating Manual

Contents

CHAPTER 2 - SAMPLE PREPARATIONCarl Zeiss Sample Mounting for LSFM Lightsheet Z.120 000000-1790-528 02/20132.3.2 Molding and Mounting SupportsAs described previously, there are several options to prepare a sample and therefore several options tomanipulate and mount it. Initially, readily available products found in cell biology laboratories: syringes,capillaries or pipettes were used to mount samples. These components are all commercially available,cheap and convenient for LSFM sample preparation. However, they still need to be prepared for thespecific needs. Plastic syringes exist in various sizes (0.2 ml, 0.3 ml, 0.5 ml, or 1 ml) and have tightplungers that easily allow pumping and movement of the agarose rod used to embed the sample.They can also be used to hang the sample by effectively using the plunger and syringe body as forceps.The sample holder disc for syringes (Fig. 14/I and K) provided should be used in this case. Moreover, theycan be purchased sterile for single use applications.In the case of Lightsheet Z.1, the sample kit is provided with four types of color coded capillaries withmatching plungers (Fig. 14/A and B) and color coded sleeves to fit perfectly each type of capillary to thesample holder (Fig. 14/C). The typical protocol of sample mounting is a two-step process of choosingcarefully your sample mounting system based on your sample (size, agarose/sample ratio…) then toassemble it (e.g. plunger+tip+capillary) beforehand. Prepare it (e.g. sample + agarose) and insert it in theLightsheet Z.1 upper sample opening (Fig. 14/G and H).