Confocal Image Gallery
The performance of an optical imaging system is best evaluated by the quality of its acquired images. This gallery presents fluorescence images obtained using FV300 and FV500 confocal microscopes under various experimental conditions and scanning modes. Several datasets were processed using 3D volume rendering and other post-acquisition techniques to highlight structural detail.
Drosophila Adult Brain
Three-dimensional volume rendering of optical sections from an adult Drosophila melanogaster brain. Mushroom bodies were labeled with GFP (green), highlighting neuronal structures. Image contributed by Toshiro Aigaki, Cytogenetics Department, Tokyo Metropolitan University.
Fluorescent Protein Expression in Zebrafish Embryos
Three-dimensional reconstruction of a zebrafish embryo expressing dsRED. Serial 5‑µm optical sections were acquired to visualize spatial protein expression. Fluorescent spectral variants allow multi-labeling and precise excitation with dedicated laser lines. Image contributed by Yasuhiro Kamei and Shunsuke Yuba, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Osaka University.
Human Colon Crypt
Confocal image of a human colon crypt labeled with Alexa Fluor 488 (green) and TO-PRO-3 (red), revealing detailed crypt anatomy. Image captured by Christine Anderson, Ray White Laboratory, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah.
Human Skin Tissue
Thick living skin section imaged at ~80 µm depth using IR-DIC with water immersion optics and 750 nm near-infrared laser excitation. Combines confocal fluorescence with traditional contrast enhancement to visualize sub-surface tissue architecture.
Mouse Hippocampal Neurons
Hippocampal neurons expressing GFP-labeled postsynaptic density proteins (green) and stained with rhodamine-phalloidin to visualize actin filaments (red). Actin is concentrated at postsynaptic sites within dendrites. Image by Shigeo Okabe, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
Nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans) Expressing Fluorescent Proteins
Confocal fluorescence image of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, extensively used in genetics, developmental biology, and neurobiology research. The specimen represents a transgenic mutant expressing a β-integrin–GFP fusion protein, enabling direct visualization of integrin localization and distribution in vivo. The GFP signal provides high-contrast mapping of protein expression within the intact organism under confocal optical sectioning.
Image courtesy of Xioping Xhu and John Plenefisch, Department of Biology, University of Toledo.
Rat Cerebellum Purkinje Cells
Purkinje neurons labeled with FITC (green) for VGAT and Cy3 (red) for VGLUT1, illustrating inhibitory and excitatory synaptic vesicle transporters. Image provided by Masahiko Watanabe, Department of Anatomy, Hokkaido University School of Medicine.
Rat Tongue Taste Buds
Triple staining with DAPI (blue nuclei), FITC (TrkB receptor, green), and Texas Red (protein gene products, red). Enables visualization of nuclear architecture, receptor distribution, and protein localization. Image contributed by Shigeru Takami, Department of Anatomy, Kyorin University
Retina Ganglion Cell
Retinal ganglion cell labeled with Lucifer yellow (green), with dopamine-responsive amacrine cells counterstained with Texas Red. Highlights dendritic arborization and cellular interactions. Image by Professor Shigetada Nakanishi, Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine.
Swallowtail Butterfly Visual Interneurons
Visual interneurons injected with Lucifer yellow, imaged across a 383‑µm axial range using extended focus. Overlapping pseudo-coloring illustrates structural details of the interneuron network. Image by Mituyo Kinoshita and Kentaro Arikawa, Laboratory of Neuroethology, Yokohama City University.
Zinnia elegans Mesophyll Cells
Isolated mesophyll cells labeled with multiple fluorophores and reconstructed using 3D volume rendering to visualize chloroplasts and cytoskeletal structures. Image contributed by Keisuke Obara and Hiroo Fukuda, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Tokyo.
Normal African Green Monkey Kidney Fibroblast Cells (CV-1 Cell Line)
An adherent, logarithmically growing culture of African green monkey kidney cells was labeled using a standard triple-staining protocol consisting of MitoTracker Red CMXRos, DAPI, and Alexa Fluor 488–conjugated phalloidin, which specifically stain mitochondria, nuclear DNA, and filamentous actin (F-actin), respectively.
Acorus (Sweet Flag) – Stem Autofluorescence
Sweet flag is a semi-aquatic perennial that grows in marshes and along freshwater margins. It has aromatic, iris-like leaves and propagates through a thick underground rhizome, historically used in traditional medicine but later restricted in the United States due to safety concerns.
In fluorescence microscopy, sweet flag stem tissue exhibits strong natural autofluorescence from lignin, chlorophyll, and phenolic compounds, allowing structural visualization of vascular and cell wall components without additional staining.
Lilium – Lily Flower Bud
Lilies (genus Lilium, family Liliaceae) are tall, erect perennials with narrow leaves, six-part flowers, and distinctive bulbs composed of loose scales that allow easy vegetative propagation. Though over 4,000 species belong to the lily family, true lilies are fewer than 100 species, and other plants, like water lilies (Nymphaeaceae), are sometimes misidentified due to visual similarity.
Cultivated for centuries, lilies have served as ornamental and medicinal plants and carry rich cultural symbolism. White lilies, for instance, represent purity a tradition dating back to ancient Rome and the Madonna lily became associated with innocence in medieval Christian art.
Pinus – Pine Wood
Pinus – Pine WoodPine trees (Pinus spp., family Pinaceae) are cone-bearing evergreens native primarily to the Northern Hemisphere, though many species are now cultivated worldwide. Pines are fast-growing, hardy, and adaptable to poor soils, high elevations, and arid conditions, making them ideal for reforestation, timber production, and ornamental plantings. Certain species rely on fire for successful reproduction, which can be disrupted in areas where fire is suppressed.
All pines are classified as softwoods, but commercial forestry often distinguishes between hard and soft pines. Hard pines feature coarser, darker, and more durable wood, while soft pines are lighter and easier to work. Pine wood is a versatile natural resource used extensively in construction, paper manufacturing, and as fuel. Beyond industry, pines provide resin, turpentine, edible seeds, and decorative value—some species fetch premium prices as Christmas trees or landscape ornamentals. Their structural and chemical properties also make pine tissues excellent subjects for autofluorescence imaging in botanical and ecological studies.
Lycopodium – Clubmoss Mature Stem
Clubmosses are seedless vascular plants with an alternation of generations between a dominant spore-producing sporophyte and a small underground gametophyte. The mature sporophyte has creeping or sometimes erect, highly branched stems covered with small needle-like leaves (microphylls).
Spores are usually produced in terminal cone-like structures (strobili), although some species bear sporangia at the base of individual leaves. These plants are homosporous, producing one type of spore that develops into a subterranean, fungus-associated gametophyte.
In autofluorescence microscopy, mature stems show natural fluorescence from lignified vascular tissues, enabling structural visualization without staining.
Alcea – Hollyhock Rust
Hollyhocks (Alcea spp.) are tall ornamental plants, native to China and cultivated in Europe since the Middle Ages. They produce large, colorful five-petaled flowers on upright stems and may be annual, biennial, or perennial.
A common disease is rust caused by Puccinia malvacearum. It appears as yellow spots on upper leaf surfaces and orange-brown pustules underneath, which release spores spread by wind or rain. Mallow species can serve as reservoirs.
Control measures include proper spacing, removal of infected leaves and nearby mallows, and fungicide use if needed.
In autofluorescence microscopy, infected tissues show characteristic fluorescence from fungal structures and modified plant cell walls, allowing visualization without staining.
Typha – Cattail Leaf
Cattails (Typha spp.) are tall wetland plants growing along ponds and marshes, often exceeding two meters in height.
Their long, ribbon-like leaves contain extensive aerenchyma (air spaces) that provide buoyancy and enable gas exchange in waterlogged soils. This spongy structure also explains their traditional use in weaving and insulation.
Cattails are wind-pollinated, with separate male and female flower spikes on the same stem. The brown cylindrical female spike produces lightweight seeds dispersed by wind.
In autofluorescence microscopy, leaf tissues show natural fluorescence from lignified vascular bundles, revealing internal structure without staining.
Lateral Ventricle
This image shows a coronal section of rat brain highlighting the lateral ventricle, part of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)–filled ventricular system.
Immunofluorescence labeling reveals neuronal structures (NF-H, green), astroglial and neural stem cells (GFAP, red), and nuclei (DRAQ5, cyan). The multichannel confocal image combines sequentially acquired fluorescence signals to visualize cellular organization around the ventricle.
Targeting Mitochondria and Nuclear DNA in Bovine Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells
Bovine pulmonary artery endothelial (BPAE) cells were labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos, a rosamine derivative that selectively stains mitochondria, and DRAQ5 to visualize nuclear DNA. This dual labeling enables simultaneous observation of the mitochondrial network and nuclear chromatin. Mitochondria appear as discrete, interconnected structures throughout the cytoplasm, while DRAQ5 highlights the compact DNA within nuclei. The combined fluorescent signals provide detailed contrast between organelles and nuclei, allowing comprehensive assessment of mitochondrial morphology in relation to nuclear organization in cultured BPAE cells.
Collisional Quenching and Cytoskeletal Visualization in COS-7 Cells
This image shows COS-7 fibroblast cells with their cytoskeleton and nuclei immunofluorescently labeled. Microtubules are detected with Cy3-conjugated antibodies (red), filamentous actin with Alexa Fluor 488–phalloidin (green), and nuclei with DAPI (blue).
Images were acquired in grayscale and pseudocolored to visualize microtubules, actin filaments, and nuclei. This labeling highlights cytoskeletal organization and spatial relationships with the nucleus.
Collisional quenching fluorophore deactivation through transient interactions with other molecules—can affect fluorescence intensity and provides insight into the local molecular environment.
Epiglottis – Elastic Cartilage
The epiglottis is a leaf-shaped flap of elastic cartilage in the throat that prevents food and liquids from entering the larynx and trachea during swallowing. It remains upright at rest and folds backward to cover the airway when swallowing.
Microscopically, it contains chondrocytes within lacunae in an elastic fiber–rich matrix, with isogenous groups formed from single cell divisions. Surrounding mucous glands lubricate the tissue for smooth passage of food.
Inflammation (epiglottitis) can obstruct breathing and swallowing, while malfunction may trigger protective coughing.
Rat Brain Tissue Sections
The rat brain is widely used as an experimental model to study the complex anatomy and physiological mechanisms of the human brain. Research based on rat brain tissue has played a major role in advancing our understanding of neurological diseases, including dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
Brain tissue is organized into many distinct anatomical and functional regions, each performing specialized roles. Individual brain cells differentiate and function through the expression of a broad range of proteins, enzymes, transporters, and cellular receptors, which contribute to the complexity and specialization of the nervous system.
See image collection of the rat brain regions
Amygdala 
See image collection of the rat brain regions