December 2-3, 1999

University of Pavia
Department of Animal Biology
 

This two day Permanent Education Course was held in the Dipartimento di
Biologia Animale of the University of Pavia for the Pilot Project
"Continuing Education on Microscopy Techniques for Biologists and
Doctors - Biomedical Imaging". It was made under the framework of the
Leonardo da Vinci programme of the European Community. Over 40
enthusiastic post-graduated participants coming from biomedical and
pharmacological institutions in Pavia, Milano, Brescia, Padova and
Trieste attended the Seminars and Workshops in the historical buildings of Palazzo Botta.

In the morning sessions an updating on the state of the art in
apoptosis, oxidative stress and video microscopy was made by experts in
the field. In the afternoon workshops the participants, organized in
groups, had the opportunity of observing samples of apoptotic cells
detected with various systems, autofluorescent tissue samples and tissue
samples marked with multiple fluorescent probes.  Four working stations
were available, consisting in the most modern versions of fluorescence
microscopes equipped also with multi-passband filters from the Carl Zeiss
Company. The fluorescence signals were detected with different types of
highly sensitive CCD cameras from Hamamatsu and analysed with software
both from Carl Zeiss and Hamamatsu. Technical experts from these two
Companies and young tutors from the Department of Animal Biology
followed each group of participants, giving all requested explanations
on sample preparation, immunohistochemical detection, use of fluorescent
probes and choice of the best instrumentation to use for each particular sample.

The organisers wish to thank the speakers, the Companies that supported
the Course, the tutors and all the people who contributed so
meaningfully to the success of this meeting, by working on the
"backstage" to provide representative biological samples and to document
and publicise the results.
The organizers are also looking forward to meeting everyone again in May
2000, in the occasion of the VII Basic Course: Light Microscopy and
Photomicrography Techniques and VI Symposium which will be devoted to
the Photon Century.
 

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