Advanced three-camera system for neurobiology

When The Maguire Lab at Tufts University School of Medicine needed a specialized system to capture simultaneous images for its research, Prior Scientific helped develop a unique three-camera widefield and confocal scanner for fluorescent imaging.

The Maguire Lab is a research program at Tufts University School of Medicine in Massachusetts that investigates the underlying neurobiology of numerous disorders, with a focus on epilepsy and postpartum depression. The lab’s research investigates the role of GABAergic signalling and stress in the control of neural networks and the contribution to both physiology and pathophysiology. It aims to bridge critical knowledge gaps and contribute to the development of effective treatment options.

The researchers faced a complex challenge in studying how interneurons coordinate network activity in the brain. The specific difficulty lay in observing and analyzing sparse neural populations. Interneurons make up only 20% of neuronal cell types in any brain region, with specific subtypes comprising just 5% of cells in a given area.

Traditional imaging approaches, including fiber photometry and in vivo microscopic imaging, proved insufficient for capturing these sparse cell populations with the breadth and detail needed, so a more customized solution was required.

After evaluating multiple options, including systems from major manufacturers, the Maguire Lab determined that no off-the-shelf solution could meet its requirements.

Instead, they partnered with Prior Scientific to develop a custom imaging system built around three Hamamatsu Quest cameras and a Crest CICERO spinning disc confocal unit.