Human Thyroid Gland Tissue

The human thyroid gland tissue sample featured in the digital image above was fluorescently labeled with Alexa Fluor 488 conjugated to phalloidin, targeting polymerized actin (F-actin). The specimen was also stained with Texas Red-X conjugated to wheat germ agglutinin, which selectively binds to N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylneuraminic (sialic acid) residues and is popular for staining the Golgi network in fixed cells and tissues. DNA was targeted with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Images were recorded in grayscale with a 12-bit digital camera coupled to either a Nikon E-600 or Eclipse 80i microscope equipped with bandpass emission fluorescence filter optical blocks. During the processing stage, individual image channels were pseudocolored with RGB values corresponding to each of the fluorophore emission spectral profiles.