Imaging method reveals new cells and structures in human brain tissue

  • MIT researchers developed a new imaging method called expansion revealing that can visualize up to five different molecule types at a time within a cell¹.
  • The method is based on expansion microscopy, which involves embedding cells in a polymer gel and expanding them to make them easier to image¹.
  • Expansion revealing allows scientists to measure each signal from random, distinct locations throughout a cell, overcoming the limitation of conventional microscopy that can only distinguish between a few fluorescent colors¹.
  • The researchers used expansion revealing to identify two populations of neurons that respond to calcium signals in different ways, which may influence how they encode long-term memories¹.
  • Expansion revealing could enable studies of complex signaling networks that control most cell functions, and potentially lead to new insights into diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s¹.
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“Wisdom enough to leech us of our ill is daily spun” (Millay)

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“Change is slow, until it isn’t”. - Roger Spitz

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These types of advances will be fundamental to discovering the cause and cure of schizophrenia. Thanks for sharing the article.

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