Ciocon, Bernice R.

ZOO 302
3 Biology – 7 February 5, 2017

TYPES OF MICROSCOPE
Type of Microscope Special Features Special Dye
Bright-Field Microscope Stained tissue is examined Simple Stains
with ordinary light passing Differential Stains
through an optical system to  Gram Stains
focus and view the specimen.  Acid-fast Stain
Special Stains
 Capsule Stain
 Endospore Stain
 Flagella Stain

Flourescence Microscope Tissue sections irridiated with Fluorescent Dyes

ultraviolet (UV) light and the Ex. Acridine orange
emission is in the visible DAPI and Hoechst
portion of the spectrum. Fluorescent Tags
Fluorescent molecules are
visible, allowing localization of
fluorescent probes which can
be much more specific than
routine stains.

Phase-Contrast Microscope Uses the differences in

refractive index of various
natural cell and tissue
components to produce an
image without staining,
allowing observation of living
cells.

Differential Interference A modification of phase-

Microscope contrast microscopy with
produces an image of living
cells with a more apparent
three-dimensional (3D) aspect.
Confocal Microscope Involves scanning the
specimen at successive focal
planes with a focused light
beam, often from a laser, and
produces a 3D reconstruction
from the images.

Polarizing Microscope Allows the recognition of Simple Stains

stained or unstained structures Ex. Red picrosirius
made of highly organized Orcein
subunits. It produces an image Hematoxylin
only of material having
repetitive, periodic
macromolecular structure.

Transmission Electron A beam of electrons focused Impregnated with heavy

Microscope using electromagnetic “lenses” metals
passess through the tissue
section to produce an image
with black, white, and
intermediate shades of grey
regions.

Scanning Electron Provides a high resolution Coated with carbon or gold

Microscope view of the surfaces of cells,
tissues, and organs. The
surface of the specimen is first
coated with a very thin layer of
heavy metal (often gold) which
reflects electrons in a beam
scanning the specimen thus
producing signals that are
processed to produce a black-
and-white image.