For phase-contrast and fluorescence imaging of adherent cells and floating ex vivo cultures, images were acquired with an inverted microscope (Nikon Eclipse Ti) using a 10× lens (Nikon Plan Fluor, NA 0.3) and a Nikon Ds-Fi camera. Immunofluorescent staining was analyzed with an inverted Zeiss Z1 microscope using a 20× air lens (Zeiss Plan-APOCHROME, NA 0.8) equipped with a motorized Zeiss scanning stage. Axiovision software was used to acquire and stitch images. For confocal microscopy, meshes were mounted between glass slides and coverslips with ProLong anti-fade reagent (Invitrogen) before analysis on an LSM-510 confocal microscope (Zeiss) using a 20× air lens (Zeiss Plan-APOCHROME, NA 0.8). Both Zeiss microscopes were equipped with an Axio Cam MRC CCD (6.45 micron). The Image-J (Fiji (64 bit)) software [44 ] was used for image quantifications and three-dimensional reconstruction.
Duss S., Brinkhaus H., Britschgi A., Cabuy E., Frey D.M., Schaefer D.J, & Bentires-Alj M. (2014). Mesenchymal precursor cells maintain the differentiation and proliferation potentials of breast epithelial cells. Breast Cancer Research : BCR, 16(3), R60.
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