Near-infrared branding efficiently correlates light and electron microscopy |
June 5, 2011 |
Bishop D, Nikic I, Brinkoetter M, Knecht S, Potz S, Kerschensteiner M*, Misgeld T*. *Co-senior authors |
Nature Methods |
The correlation of light and electron microscopy of complex tissues remains a major challenge. Here we report near-infrared branding (NIRB), which facilitates such correlation by using a pulsed, near-infrared laser to create defined fiducial marks in three dimensions in fixed tissue. As these marks are fluorescent and can be photo-oxidized to generate electron contrast, they can guide re-identification of previously imaged structures as small as dendritic spines by electron microscopy. |