ImageXpress Pico Automated Cell Imaging System

Cell Counting

Cell counting is fundamental and critical to numerous biological experiments. Assays such as drug compound toxicity, cell proliferation, and inhibition of cell division have a need to assess the number or density of cells in a well. Automated imaging can greatly speed up the cell counting process while reducing manual labor and human errors. Cells can be counted using a variety of methods, such as label-free cell counting under transmitted light or detection of nuclear dye with fluorescent imaging.

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Apoptosis Analysis

Apoptosis is a process of programmed cell death important to a number of biological processes including embryonic development and normal tissue maintenance. Disruption in the regulation of apoptosis has been implicated in various diseases including cancer. Biochemical events lead to characteristic changes in cell morphology such as cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and mRNA decay, and ultimately cell death. Apoptosis can be initiated via the intrinsic or extrinsic pathways, and both pathways induce cell death by activating caspase enzymes

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Digital Confocal

The ability of cells to adapt to their environment is mediated by highly controlled signaling pathways. In many cases, the initiation of these pathways by extracellular signals, such as hormones or cytokines, leads to the translocation of proteins from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Once in the nucleus, these proteins can regulate the expression of target genes. Assays requiring precise identification of sub-cellular structures or molecules within different cellular compartments can benefit from the ability of image deconvolution to improve identification of the specific fluorescence signal against potentially high background caused by out-of-focus light. The ImageXpress Pico system with Digital Confocal 2D on-the-fly deconvolution is capable of measuring the translocation of proteins from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, like NF-κB translocation upon treatment with TNF-α. The enhancement in image resolution and maintenance of quantitative information from the image deconvolution leads to greater statistical significance in the analysis of nuclear translocation.

Neurite Outgrowth / Neurite Tracing

Neurons create connections via extensions of their cellular body called processes. This biological phenomenon is referred to as neurite outgrowth. Understanding the signaling mechanisms driving neurite outgrowth provides valuable insight into neurotoxic responses, compound screening, and for interpreting factors influencing neural regeneration. Using the ImageXpress Micro system in combination with MetaXpress Image Analysis Software automated neurite outgrowth imaging and analysis is possible for slide or microplate-based cellular assays.

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