Open AccessIsolation of guard cells from fresh epidermis using a piezo-power micro-dissection system with vibration-attenuated needles
Author(s) -
Ulrich Terpitz,
D. Zimmermann
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
biotechniques/biotechniques
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.617
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1940-9818
pISSN - 0736-6205
DOI - 10.2144/000113346
Subject(s) - materials science , vibration , biomedical engineering , microdissection , vibration isolation , optics , acoustics , chemistry , physics , biochemistry , gene , medicine
The Eppendorf Piezo-Power Microdissection (PPMD) system uses a tungsten needle (MicroChisel) oscillating in a forward-backward (vertical) mode to cut cells from surrounding tissue. This technology competes with laser-based dissection systems, which offer high accuracy and precision, but are more expensive and require fixed tissue. In contrast, PPMD systems can dissect freshly prepared tissue, but their accuracy and precision is lower due to unwanted lateral vibrations of the MicroChisel. Especially in tissues where elasticity is high, these vibrations can limit the cutting resolution or hamper the dissection. Here we describe a cost-efficient and simple glass capillary–encapsulation modification of MicroChisels for effective attenuation of lateral vibrations. The use of modified MicroChisels enables accurate and precise tissue dissection from highly elastic material.