TY - JOUR TI - Plasmon resonance and the imaging of metal-impregnated neurons with the laser scanning confocal microscope AU - Thompson, Karen J AU - Harley, Cynthia M AU - Barthel, Grant M AU - Sanders, Mark A AU - Mesce, Karen A A2 - Calabrese, Ronald L VL - 4 PY - 2015 DA - 2015/12/15 SP - e09388 C1 - eLife 2015;4:e09388 DO - 10.7554/eLife.09388 UR - https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09388 AB - The staining of neurons with silver began in the 1800s, but until now the great resolving power of the laser scanning confocal microscope has not been utilized to capture the in-focus and three-dimensional cytoarchitecture of metal-impregnated cells. Here, we demonstrate how spectral confocal microscopy, typically reserved for fluorescent imaging, can be used to visualize metal-labeled tissues. This imaging does not involve the reflectance of metal particles, but rather the excitation of silver (or gold) nanoparticles and their putative surface plasmon resonance. To induce such resonance, silver or gold particles were excited with visible-wavelength laser lines (561 or 640 nm), and the maximal emission signal was collected at a shorter wavelength (i.e., higher energy state). Because the surface plasmon resonances of noble metal nanoparticles offer a superior optical signal and do not photobleach, our novel protocol holds enormous promise of a rebirth and further development of silver- and gold-based cell labeling protocols. KW - surface plasmon resonance KW - noble metals KW - super resolution microscopy KW - nanoparticles KW - motoneurons KW - Golgi stain JF - eLife SN - 2050-084X PB - eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd ER -