News for Leica VT1200

Live/dead cell assay reveals viable neurons (fluorescing green) in 50 μm sections of hippocampus (A) and spinal cord (B). A2 and A3. Enlargement of CA1 and dentate granule regions respectively. Scale bar = 100 μm in A1 and 50 μm in A2, A3, and B).

Sectioning fresh tissue specimens with Leica Microsystems’ VT Series maintains the morphology, enzyme activity and cell viability of the tissue. Their use also minimizes artifacts, compression distortion, cell destruction and other inherent deleterious effects of sectioning.

Freezing fractures cell membranes, and there is a loss of cytosol. This is avoided by Vibratome sectioning, so that immune or other staining of cellular free cytosol proteins is much more vivid with Vibratome cut sections. This includes natural proteins, and HRP and other markers.

Other applications include cell culturing of different organs, sections for patch clamping, electrophysiology, free floating sections and many other applications in neuroscience.

Online videos

See our online videos of the Leica VT1200 S, where physiologists show and explain how they work with the Leica Vibratome.

As of January 2010, we are pleased to offer a free video tutorial DVD on our Vibrating Blade Microtome Family. This DVD includes a general introduction to vibrating blade microtomy technology and much more.

The menu guides you through an explanation of every detail from unpacking the instrument to detailed installation instructions, through application recommendations by means of video and flash animation.

Since vibrating blade microtomy is a specialized technique, the second section features a presentation of live tissue sectioning in Professor Peter Jonas' laboratory at the University of Freiburg. You will also find Tips, Techniques, FAQ, and downloads on the DVD.

If you would like to receive this DVD free of charge, please contact your local Leica Microsystems representative. The order number is 1495.9097.