Fluorescent indicators are employed in various histological techniques to visualize and analyze tissues and cells. Some common applications include:
- Immunofluorescence: This technique uses antibodies conjugated with fluorescent dyes to detect specific proteins in tissue sections. It is widely used to study protein localization and expression levels. - In Situ Hybridization: Fluorescently labeled DNA or RNA probes are used to detect specific nucleic acid sequences within cells. This method helps in identifying the presence and distribution of particular genes or transcripts. - Live-cell Imaging: Fluorescent proteins such as GFP are used to monitor cellular processes in real-time. This is particularly useful for studying dynamic events like cell division, migration, and signal transduction. - Confocal Microscopy: This advanced imaging technique uses laser-scanning to obtain high-resolution, three-dimensional images of fluorescently labeled samples.
