ABSTRACT
Over the past 40 years, fluorescence microscopy has undergone a rapid and substantial evolution in its design and in the number of applications for which it can be used. Immunofluorescence is used to visualize specific cell or tissue components – it combines the specificity of antibodies with the sensitivity of fluorescence. It is based on the fact that it is possible to produce highly specific antibodies against individual cell constituents (antigens), to label these antibodies with fluorescent molecules and then visualize these fluorescent antibodies after they have been applied to microscopic specimens. The ability to image living cell shape and size and quantitate the cellular distribution of fluorescent material at the same time represents a powerful approach to understanding the role of specific cellular constituents in overall cell function. The use of fluorescent stains coupled with computerized vision microscopy systems enables the screening of stained specimens with reliable and accurate detection of almost all cells, automatically.
