Project Details
Projekt
Light-sheet fluorescence microscopy system
Subject Area
Medicine
Term
Funded in 2026
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 576022497
Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy (LSFM) enables high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging of biological specimens while minimizing phototoxic stress. The technique relies on generating a thin sheet of light by optically shaping a laser beam. This light sheet illuminates the specimen exclusively within a precisely defined plane. The emission from the excited fluorophores is detected perpendicularly to the illumination using a wide-field fluorescence microscope. This results in an optical section with high axial resolution. Unlike conventional wide-field or confocal microscopy, the depth of the detected signal is clearly limited, leading to a significantly improved signal-to-noise ratio and higher image contrast. LSFM allows for rapid volumetric imaging of large, optically cleared biological specimens—such as entire organs or whole organisms—while minimizing damage to the sample. Due to the reduced phototoxicity and minimal photobleaching, specimens remain suitable for further histological, immunohistochemical, or mechanical analyses. Compared to other non-destructive imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT), LSFM offers superior spatial resolution on a subcellular scale. The LSFM system proposed here is intended to expand the existing Core Facility for Fluorescence Microscopy at the University of Oldenburg. Five research groups from two faculties (Medicine and Natural Sciences) plan to use the system to address a wide range of biomedical research questions. Prepared tissues and organs from mice, zebrafish, rainbow trout, and human samples will be examined. Key research focuses include: Investigating brain development in mice, with an emphasis on lipid-protein interactions, Creating a 3D brain atlas of the rainbow trout and analyzing neuronal fiber connections in zebrafish larvae, Studying neuronal degeneration and regeneration, as well as regeneration of the lacrimal gland, Research on optogenetically induced ischemic strokes and the effects of “Cortical Spreading Depolarization,” and Analyzing brain activity under magnetic stimulation. In addition, there are projects outside the central nervous system, such as the invasion and immune modulation of colorectal tumors and the interaction between the blood and lymphatic systems. LSFM is essential for all of these research areas, as it enables the acquisition of high-resolution 3D data with minimally invasive sample preparation. Expanding the Core Facility with an LSFM system therefore represents a strategic investment in the methodological infrastructure of the University of Oldenburg and sustainably strengthens cross-site bioscience research.
DFG Programme
Major Research Instrumentation
Major Instrumentation
Light-Sheet Fluoreszenzmikroskopie-System
Instrumentation Group
5040 Spezielle Mikroskope (außer 500-503)
Applicant Institution
Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg
