Electron microscopy

TEM

In transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electrons are shot from a glowing platina filament through a very thin tissue section. Subsequently, the electrons are projected via an optic system on a fluorescent plate, which enables visualization. These images are captured by a digital camera.

Because accelerated electrons have a much smaller wave length than photons, the resolution of electron microscopy is much higher (<0.1 nm) than the resolution of a light microscope (100 nm).  This enables clear images of the tissue at scales from 3,000x enlargement (until 80,000x enlargement).

• At the department of pathology (Ghent University Hospital), TEM is performed with a TEM9000 (Zeiss). TEM is used for detailed visualization of intracellular inclusions, bacteria, mitochondria (e.g. in liver disease), precipitations and depositions on membranes (e.g. glomeruli in the kidney), …Depending on the project, the TEM procedure is adapted to obtain the desired images.
  Contact: prof. Jo Van Dorpe  (Department of pathology, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Gent)
• At the Department of Morphology (Fac. Vet. Medicine), TEM is performed with JEM 1400 Plus, Jeol.
  Contact: prof. Ward De Spiegelaere (Angiogenesis lab; Dept Morphology, Salisburylaan 133, ingang 78, 9820 Merelbeke)

SEM

• Scanning electron microscopy is performed at the Department of Morphology (Fac. Vet. Medicine) with a JSM 5600 LV, Jeol.
  Contact: prof. Ward De Spiegelaere (Angiogenesis lab; Dept Morphology, Salisburylaan 133, ingang 78, 9820 Merelbeke)