New microscopes unravel the mysteries of brain organization

Wyss Center

, Geneva, Switzerland – The secret of capturing exquisite brain images with a new generation of custom-built microscopes is revealed today in

Nature Methods

. The new microscopes, known as mesoSPIMs, can image the minute detail of brain tissue down to individual neurons that are five times thinner than a human hair, and can uncover the 3D anatomy of entire small organs, faster than ever before. MesoSPIMs provide new insights into brain and spinal cord organization for researchers working to restore movement after paralysis or to investigate neuronal networks involved in cognition, pleasure, or drug addiction.

Because mesoSPIMs create high-resolution images of large samples faster than existing microscopes, they are beneficial for rapidly screening many samples. A new open-source initiative, comprising top European researchers in neuroscience, is driving dissemination of mesoSPIMs globally by sharing their expertise and excitement as well as stunning images and videos.

MesoSPIMs, short for ‘mesoscale selective plane-illumination microscopes’, are light-sheet microscopes. Unlike traditional microscopy in which specimens are cut in slices with a blade before being viewed on a slide under a microscope, light-sheet microscopes optically slice samples with a sheet of light. This optical sectioning captures slivers of image without damaging the sample. The imaged slices are then combined to reconstruct a detailed three-dimensional image of a whole organ or specimen. The data sets produced by standard light-sheet microscopes are very large and analysing them is time consuming. MesoSPIMs get around this problem with innovative optical technologies that allow fast scanning as well as direct visualization and quantification of the captured data.

The mesoSPIM Initiative, started by Dr. Fabian Voigt in the group of Prof. Fritjof Helmchen at the Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, enables the integration of cutting-edge technologies into research labs worldwide. “We created the open-source mesoSPIM Initiative to share the latest developments in microscope instrumentation and software with the imaging community. Anyone seeking high-quality anatomical data from large samples now has the information they need to build and operate their own mesoSPIM.” said Voigt.

The power of the initiative lies in the insights brought from differing disciplines, such as physics, developmental biology and neuroscience which allows microscope development, and brain research, to flourish.

There are currently seven mesoSPIMs in operation across Europe and several more instruments under construction. One of the new mesoSPIMs is hosted by the Advanced Lightsheet Imaging Center (ALICe) at the Wyss Center. Open to external users, ALICe offers a complete pipeline from sample preparation to image analysis, under the scientific guidance of experts from the University of Geneva and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).

Dr Stéphane Pagès, ALICe Scientific Coordinator said: “We are very proud to have one of only seven mesoSPIM microscopes in the world at the Wyss Center. MesoSPIM microscopes solve the longstanding problem of how to achieve exceptional image quality in large samples over very short time-scales. We are delighted to be part of the initiative that brings this technology to the world.”

The mesoSPIM Initiative is aimed at research groups and imaging facilities with experience in building and supporting custom microscopes. A mesoSPIM can be installed in few days and typically requires a budget of around $200K.

‘

The mesoSPIM initiative – open-source light-sheet microscopes for imaging cleared tissue’

is published in

Nature Methods

.

https:/

/

www.

nature.

com/

articles/

s41592-019-0554-0

DOI: 10.1038/s41592-019-0554-0

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Information for reporters

For more information on the mesoSPIM Initiative visit: mesospim.org/

Images and video

Image caption: A mesoSPIM microscope, one of only seven in the world, in the Wyss Center’s microscopy facility. The sample is illuminated with blue light.

Credit: Stéphane Pagès

Download link (3.9 MB)

Video caption: This large-scale dataset reveals the developing nervous system of a seven-day old chicken embryo captured with a mesoSPIM microscope.

Credit: Mesospim.org

Video file download link (18 MB)

Image caption: This large-scale dataset reveals the developing nervous system of a seven-day old chicken embryo captured with a mesoSPIM microscope.

Credit: mesoSPIM.org

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Download link rainbow (8 MB)

Image caption: Whole mouse brain stained for vasculature. The image reveals blood vessels, including fine capillaries.

Credit: mesoSPIM.org

Download link (1.6 MB)

Video caption: Entire mouse brain revealing the cell bodies of individual neurons captured with a mesoSPIM microscope.

Credit: mesoSPIM.org

Video file download link (9.8MB)

Video caption: Timelapse: Building a mesoSPIM microscope in a day.

Credit: Mesospim.org

Video file download link (38 MB)

Image caption: A mesoSPIM microscope, one of only seven in the world, in the Wyss Center’s microscopy facility. The sample is illuminated with blue light.

Credit: Wyss Center,

http://www.

wysscenter.

ch


Download link (1.8 MB)

Image caption: A mesoSPIM microscope in the Wyss Center’s microscopy facility showing a sample held in a cuvette.

Credit: Wyss Center,

http://www.

wysscenter.

ch


Download link (11 MB)

Contact:

Jo Bowler, Wyss Center Media and Public Relations Manager

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About the Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering, Geneva, Switzerland

The Wyss Center is an independent, non-profit, bio and neurotechnology research and development organization focused on translation. The Center provides the expertise, facilities and financial resources to transform creative neuroscience research into clinical solutions for unmet medical needs.
The Wyss Center’s experienced multidisciplinary team from industry and academia provides the integrated scientific, engineering, clinical, regulatory and business expertise required to guide high risk, high reward projects on their journey from research to product.
Based at Campus Biotech in Geneva, Switzerland, the Center has advanced neuroscience and engineering facilities for the development of technology that will prevent, diagnose or treat nervous system disorders, or has the potential to improve lives.
Established by a generous donation from the Swiss entrepreneur and philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss, the Wyss (pronounced “Veese”) Center, is a partner in a progressive neuroscience hub at Campus Biotech.

http://www.

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