Differential Interference Contrast - Step by Step Guide to Optimal DIC Setup

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Institute: Leica Microsystems, Wetzlar, Germany
30. January 2012

The examination of live unstained biological specimens often suffers from poor contrast and therefore bad visibility of the specimen. Thick specimens in particular, such as brain slices, show up as nothing more than light grey structures instead of single cells. This tutorial explains the optical elements in the light path and the operating mode of DIC (differential interference contrast) on the example of an inverted and motorized high-end research light microscope which can be used for transmitted light contrasting methods and fluorescence microscopy.

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Thomas Veitinger, Dr.

Dr. Thomas Veitinger studied Biology at the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany and received a diploma in Developmental Neurobiology. In his Ph.D. thesis at the Department of Cell Physiology of the Ruhr-University in Bochum, he investigated odor-driven subcellular calcium dynamics of human spermatozoa and gained experience in live-cell imaging methods and general physiology. As a post-doc, he worked in the department for chemosensation of the RWTH Aachen University, Germany lead by Prof. Dr. Marc Spehr. There, he investigated male germ stem cells using the patch-clamp technique and live-cell imaging. Since May 2011, he is employed by Leica Microsystems as an Application Manager for live-cell imaging, electrophysiology and neuroscience applications.

Thomas.Veitinger@leica-microsystems.com

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