Microscopy Primer
Light and Color
Microscope Basics
Special Techniques
Digital Imaging
Confocal Microscopy
Live-Cell Imaging
Photomicrography
Microscopy Museum
Virtual Microscopy
Fluorescence
Web Resources
License Info
Image Use
Custom Photos
Partners
Site Info
Contact Us
Publications
Home

The Galleries:

Photo Gallery
Silicon Zoo
Pharmaceuticals
Chip Shots
Phytochemicals
DNA Gallery
Microscapes
Vitamins
Amino Acids
Birthstones
Religion Collection
Pesticides
BeerShots
Cocktail Collection
Screen Savers
Win Wallpaper
Mac Wallpaper
Movie Gallery

Fluorescence Digital Image Gallery

Mink Uterus Endometrium Epithelial Cells (GMMe Line)

The GMMe cell line was established by the stable transfection of endometrial tissue of an adult female mink (Mustela vison) using a plasmid vector encoding the simian virus 40 (SV40) large T-antigen driven by the human beta-actin promoter. The cells were cotransfected with a second plasmid vector to confer neomycin resistance and were selected in medium containing G418.

The cuboidal GMMe cells, which exhibit epithelial characteristics, are strongly positive for cytokeratin and weakly positive for vimentin. The line is also positive for alkaline phosphatase, but negative for desmin. GMME cells have been used in co-culture with mink embryos in obligate diapause to enhance the length and frequency of embryo survival in vitro, although the mink stromal line, GMMs, was utilized in this same manner with a greater rate of success.

The endometrium is one of the three layers that comprise the uterine wall in female mammals. The mucosal epithelial lining is the innermost stratum and is functionally divided into two zones: the functionalis and the basalis. Comprised of the epithelium and glandular elements, the basalis remains in the female body on a continuous basis, but the tissue of the functionalis is built up each month and is shed during menstruation when fertilization does not occur. If an egg is successfully fertilized, however, the functionalis is not sloughed and the ovum attaches to it so that embryonic development may begin. The outer layer of the endometrium, known as the perimetrium, is composed of a mesothelium and connective tissue, and directly beneath this stratum is the myometrium, which is comprised of smooth muscle and elastic tissue.

The culture of mink endometrial (GMMe) cells presented in the digital image above was labeled for mitochondria and the cytoskeletal filamentous actin network with MitoTracker Red CMXRos and Alexa Fluor 488 conjugated to phalloidin, respectively. In addition, cell nuclei were targeted with the blue fluorescent nucleic acid stain, DAPI, which preferentially stains dsDNA. 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.

Additional Fluorescence Images of Mink Uterus Endometrium (GMMe) Cells

Mink Uterus Endometrium Cells with Texas Red-X, Oregon Green 488, and Hoechst 33258 - In order to label the intermediate filaments in a log phase adherent GMMe culture, the fixed and permeabilized cells were blocked and treated with mouse anti-vimentin (porcine eye lens) primary antibodies followed by goat anti-mouse secondary antibodies (IgG) conjugated to Texas Red-X. Filamentous actin was visualized with phalloidin conjugated to Oregon Green 488, while the nuclei were stained with Hoechst 33258.

Focal Adhesion Sites in GMMe Cell Cultures - A culture of mink uterus endometrium cells was immunofluorescently labeled with primary anti-vinculin mouse monoclonal antibodies followed by goat anti-mouse secondary antibodies (IgG) conjugated to Alexa Fluor 568 (red fluorescence emission). Note the prominent staining of the cellular attachment network in the central portion and periphery of these cells. In addition, the specimen was simultaneously stained for DNA with the ultraviolet-absorbing probe Hoechst 33342, and for the cytoskeletal filamentous actin network with Alexa Fluor 488 conjugated to phalloidin.

Mink Uterus Endometrium Cells with MitoTracker Red CMXRos, Alexa Fluor 488, and DAPI - In what has become a favorite standard fluorescence staining protocol, a log phase monolayer adherent culture of GMMe cells was labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos before fixing, and the cells were subsequently permeabilized and stained with Alexa Fluor 488 conjugated to phalloidin, followed by DAPI, a popular DNA-binding counterstain.

BACK TO THE CULTURED CELLS FLUORESCENCE GALLERY

BACK TO THE FLUORESCENCE GALLERY

Questions or comments? Send us an email.
© 1998-2022 by Michael W. Davidson and The Florida State University. All Rights Reserved. No images, graphics, scripts, or applets may be reproduced or used in any manner without permission from the copyright holders. Use of this website means you agree to all of the Legal Terms and Conditions set forth by the owners.
This website is maintained by our
Graphics & Web Programming Team
in collaboration with Optical Microscopy at the
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
Last modification: Friday, Nov 13, 2015 at 02:19 PM
Access Count Since July 16, 2004: 24884
Microscopes, fluorescence filters, and digital imaging equipment provided by:
Visit the Olympus Microscopy Resource Center website. Visit the Omega Optical website. Visit the QImaging website.