Presented above is a widefield fluorescence image revealing the cytoskeletal tubulin and actin network lattice present in adherent rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle cells (A7r5 line). The cells were immunofluorescently labeled with mouse anti-alpha-tubulin primary antibodies followed by goat anti-mouse secondary antibodies conjugated to Alexa Fluor 568. In addition, the specimen was counterstained with Alexa Fluor 350 conjugated to phalloidin and SYTOX Green, targeting the filamentous actin network and nuclei, respectively. Images were recorded in grayscale with a QImaging Retiga Fast-EXi camera system coupled to an Olympus BX-51 microscope equipped with bandpass emission fluorescence filter optical blocks provided by Omega Optical. During the processing stage, individual image channels were pseudocolored with RGB values corresponding to each of the fluorophore emission spectral profiles. View a larger version of this digital image. |