6
General Methods
Microscope
Centrifuge
Refrigerator
and freezer
In order to observe cultured cells, an inverted microscope equipped with
a phase-contrast optic system is necessary. If possible, it is useful to have
an inverted microscope fully equipped with a 35-mm camera, 16-mm
movie camera, video camera, Nomarski interference system (for example,
Nikon), Hoffman modulation contrast system (for example, Nikon), and
fluorescent illumination system (Fig. 7). When a 16-mm movie camera
or a video camera is used to record cell movement, a timer for timelapse recording is necessary. In addition, it is preferable that the inverted
microscope be equipped with a micromanipulator system. In addition to
a fully equipped microscope, it is convenient to have a small, simple inverted microscope (Fig. 8) to use in the laminar flow cabinet.
A regular biological microscope will be useful for the observation of
stained specimens, such as chromosome preparations.
A dissecting microscope (Fig. 9) becomes necessary for the dissection of small animals in the laminar flow cabinet. A dissecting microscope with a zooming facility and with an installed illumination system
is preferable.
A low-speed centrifuge (less than 3,600 g) is needed to spin down cells in
a cell suspension. The centrifuge is used to wash cells, to harvest cells, to
subculture cells, and so on.
A domestic refrigerator is suitable. The refrigerator is used to preserve
physiological salt solutions, culture media, and chemicals that are unstable or deliquescent. Most domestic refrigerators are of the auto defrost
type. Therefore, it is necessary to pay careful attention to preserving substances that are sensitive to fluctuations in temperature (e.g., some enzymes, antibiotics).
A deep freezer is necessary for the storage of amino acid solutions,
vitamin solutions, and other unstable chemicals. The temperature range
recommended for the deep freezer is -30° to -40°C.
A programmable freezer is used to freeze living cells with a high ratio of surviving cells. The condition necessary for this is a gradual decrease in temperature. Therefore, when a programmable freezer is not
available, cells may be frozen safely in a container that does not conduct
heat, such as a polystyrene foam box.
Fig. 6. A CO, incubator with CO, gas cylinders
General Methods
Microscope
Centrifuge
Refrigerator
and freezer
In order to observe cultured cells, an inverted microscope equipped with
a phase-contrast optic system is necessary. If possible, it is useful to have
an inverted microscope fully equipped with a 35-mm camera, 16-mm
movie camera, video camera, Nomarski interference system (for example,
Nikon), Hoffman modulation contrast system (for example, Nikon), and
fluorescent illumination system (Fig. 7). When a 16-mm movie camera
or a video camera is used to record cell movement, a timer for timelapse recording is necessary. In addition, it is preferable that the inverted
microscope be equipped with a micromanipulator system. In addition to
a fully equipped microscope, it is convenient to have a small, simple inverted microscope (Fig. 8) to use in the laminar flow cabinet.
A regular biological microscope will be useful for the observation of
stained specimens, such as chromosome preparations.
A dissecting microscope (Fig. 9) becomes necessary for the dissection of small animals in the laminar flow cabinet. A dissecting microscope with a zooming facility and with an installed illumination system
is preferable.
A low-speed centrifuge (less than 3,600 g) is needed to spin down cells in
a cell suspension. The centrifuge is used to wash cells, to harvest cells, to
subculture cells, and so on.
A domestic refrigerator is suitable. The refrigerator is used to preserve
physiological salt solutions, culture media, and chemicals that are unstable or deliquescent. Most domestic refrigerators are of the auto defrost
type. Therefore, it is necessary to pay careful attention to preserving substances that are sensitive to fluctuations in temperature (e.g., some enzymes, antibiotics).
A deep freezer is necessary for the storage of amino acid solutions,
vitamin solutions, and other unstable chemicals. The temperature range
recommended for the deep freezer is -30° to -40°C.
A programmable freezer is used to freeze living cells with a high ratio of surviving cells. The condition necessary for this is a gradual decrease in temperature. Therefore, when a programmable freezer is not
available, cells may be frozen safely in a container that does not conduct
heat, such as a polystyrene foam box.
Fig. 6. A CO, incubator with CO, gas cylinders