Microscopy Porn

A bit of a change from biological specimens, but microscopy nonetheless :) In these images, drugs were crushed, solubilized, allowed to form crystal structures on microscopy slides, and were subsequently observed. The drugs shown here are diclofenac, potassium bitartrate, acetaminophen, caffeine and aspirin, respectively. Images taken by Maurice Mikkers for his series, Micrograph Stories. 

Sections of mouse gut stained via indirect immunofluorescence for a number of factors. Images taken by Susann Foerster of the Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine. 

Colony-forming mouse embryonic stem cells growing on a fibroblast feeding layer. Nuclei of stem stains stained with Hoechst 3342, a nuclear marker, and for Oct4, a marker of pluripotency. Fibroblasts are stained, in red, for cytokeratin. Image property of PerkinElmer, Inc. 

Gorgeous stains of plant tissue as visualized via confocal laser scanning microscopy. Individual stains are not noted. Images taken by Fernan Federici from Cambridge University. More images can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/anhedonias/

Light microscopy image of shrimp larvae. This image is unstained, but rather the natural pigmentation of the shrimp (in combination with the refraction of the directed light) gives a brilliant color. Image taken by Christian Sardet, as featured in his book “Plankton: Wonders of the Drifting World”. 

Stained stolon, with acetylated tubulin visualized in green, serotonin in yellow, F-actin in red and nuclei in blue, taken by Eduardo Zattara of the University of Maryland College Park.

Developing Drosophila embryos immunostained for the E2F transcription factor in purple, and for DNA replication in green (exact staining target unstated),taken by the Duronio Lab, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. 

Cross-section of a white Drosophila embryo, with blue Hoechst and rainbow RGB staining, taken in the Denise Montell Lab, University of California Santa Barbara. 

The tip of a butterfly’s tongue, as visualized through polarized light. Taken by Stephen S. Nagy of Montana Diatoms.

Fantastic picture of adherent fibroblasts, with F-actin visualized in magenta, vinculin in green, and nuclei in blue, taken by Ankur Singh of Georgia Tech. 

Captivating stain of developing Loligo pealei squid embryo(s?) visualized for F-actin in green, acetylated tubulin in red, anti-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in yellow and nuclei in blue, taken by Juliana Roscito. 

Beautiful microangiogram of a 2.5 dpf zebrafish embryo, taken in the Brant Weinstein lab of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. 

Gorgeous zebrafish embryo approximately 1 day post fertilization (dpf). The staining pattern isn’t noted in the linked page, but I imagine it is a transcription-factor expressed fluorescent protein pattern, although I cannot be certain. Picture taken by Philipp Keller, Bill Lemon, Yinan Wan and Kristin Branson of the Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Another beautiful stain, this time of a developing slipper limpet embryo. Neuro-peptide FMRF is visualized in yellow, acetylated tubulin in green, F-actin in purple and nuclei in blue. Image taken by Juliette Peterson and Rachel K. Miller.