Zeiss SteREO Discovery.V8 fluorescent dissection/stereo microscope
The Zeiss SteREO Discovery.V8 is a research stereomicroscope for fluorescence, transmitted-light and reflected-light imaging. Its apochromatic zoom optics and long working distance make it particularly suitable for fluorescence-guided dissection, screening and documentation of biological specimens such as whole brains, organs and tissue sections.
Capabilities
- Apochromatic 8:1 zoom system (1.0×–8.0×)
- Approx. 10×–80× visual magnification
- 63 mm working distance with the Achromat S 1.0× objective
- Two fluorescence channels for GFP and mRFP/red fluorescence
- Brightfield, oblique-light and darkfield transmitted-light imaging
- Adjustable and segmentable VisiLED ring illumination for reflected-light imaging
- Digital color imaging with a Zeiss Axiocam 212 color, 12.3 MP
Fluorescence and brightfield imaging
The microscope is equipped with two dedicated LED fluorescence channels:
| Channel | Excitation | Emission |
|---|---|---|
| GFP | 470 nm LED; BP 470/40 | BP 525/50 |
| mRFP | 530 nm LED; BP 510–560 | LP 590 |
These channels are suitable for screening and fluorescence-guided preparation of specimens labelled with spectrally compatible green or red fluorophores.
Compatibility with a specific fluorophore should be checked against its excitation and emission spectrum when planning an experiment.
The transmitted-light base provides brightfield, oblique-light and darkfield illumination. A VisiLED Slim Ringlight provides adjustable reflected-light illumination and can be segmented to generate directional contrast.
Camera and software
- Images can be documented using a Zeiss Axiocam 212 color CMOS camera with a maximum resolution of 4032 × 3044 pixels (12.3 MP).
- Image acquisition and camera control are available using Zeiss ZEN blue/core and Labscope. Images can be saved as TIFF or JPEG and videos as MP4.
Typical applications
- Fluorescence-guided dissection and specimen preparation
- Screening of fluorescently labelled whole brains, organs and other macroscopic specimens
- Selection of fluorescent tissue regions prior to further processing
- Documentation of biological specimens
- Examination of tissue sections at low magnification
- Routine stereomicroscopic preparation and quality control
Sample Methods Section
“Fluorescence screening and/or specimen preparation was performed using a Zeiss SteREO Discovery.V8 stereomicroscope (Carl Zeiss Microscopy, Germany) equipped with an Achromat S 1.0× objective and LED fluorescence illumination. GFP fluorescence was visualized using a 38HE filter set (470-nm LED; EX BP 470/40, EM BP 525/50), and red fluorescence using filter set 14 (530-nm LED; EX BP 510–560, EM LP 590). Images were acquired using a Zeiss Axiocam 212 color camera and ZEN [or Labscope] software.”
Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit (ZI) - https://www.zi-mannheim.de